Traditional liposuction is a guaranteed way to remove unwanted fat and contour the body’s curves, however this tried-and-true procedure has never addressed the overlying skin. Oftentimes, additional procedures such as body-lift surgery or energy-based skin-tightening treatments are necessary to obtain the optimal outcomes in patients with loose skin—and according to plastic surgeon Dr. Stanley Poulos of Plastic Surgery Specialists in the San Francisco Bay area,“In the past, significant excess skin could mean a patient is not a suitable candidate for traditional liposuction.” However, a new innovation called Renuvion may change all that.

Dr. Poulos explains, “This groundbreaking technology incorporates cold plasma energy that can be applied under the skin at the time of liposuction to promote skin contraction without the threat of burns. The advantage of plasma is that this ionized helium acts like a flame without the associated heat, so it prompts collagen to tighten while minimizing the potential complications associated with other energies.” Better yet, Renuvion can be used on its own for skin tightening alone without liposuction and only local anesthesia.

Renuvion can be used in all the areas most commonly treated with liposuction, including the abdomen, lower back, arms, thighs, and neck, and it can also help minimize the extent of more invasive procedures. “In some patients, Renuvion helps avoid a full tummy tuck that involves surgically tightening abdominal muscles and repositioning the belly button. With this technology, it’s possible to limit the procedure to skin removal through an incision in the bikini line—which makes recovery much easier,” Dr. Poulos says, adding, “This new approach may provide similar benefits in full arm and thigh lifts as well.”

Renuvion does not add to recovery time when combined with liposuction, and most patients can return to their usual activities in as little as a few days. It may be necessary to wear a compression garment after treatment to help the skin further contract and minimize swelling. In addition to the recovery associated with liposuction or other body-lift procedures, mild discomfort should be expected after Renuvion, which is usually able to be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Most patients see improvement very soon after Renuvion alone, however the swelling and bruising associated with liposuction may obscure results until these common surgical side effects subside within a few weeks. Dr. Poulos says, “Renuvion appears to be one of the newest, effective weapons in the arena of body-sculpting procedures.”