Renuvion Treatment
Patients seeking a minimally invasive procedure that successfully tightens skin in problematic areas of the body may want to consider Renuvion. An innovative solution to skin tightening that eliminates the need for major incisions, Renuvion is commonly referred to as J-Plasma.
What is Renuvion?
Renuvion is unique in its approach to treating skin that has lost elasticity through the dual use of radiofrequency energy and helium plasma to deliver precise and effective results. Initially, the plasma is introduced as an inert gas, but a directed waveform converts it into a plasma that both heats and cools tissue upon contact.
A combination of helium plasma and radiofrequency energy can then be applied to problematic areas of the skin through a small tube at an injection site. While many patients find Renuvion to be extremely effective for St Louis skin tightening of the stomach area, it’s proven equally effective at tightening the skin around the legs, back, breasts, thighs, and arms. The precision of this type of treatment means patients don’t have to worry about unintended trauma to surrounding skin tissue.
Check out our before and after photos on our Pinterest Boards!
How does Renuvion Work?
Renuvion uses helium gas, which is very stable and rapidly converts to plasma at a relatively low temperature. The helium gas is energized by radiofrequency (RF) waves to create a stream of plasma for a fraction of a second [40 milliseconds].
The plasma contracts the tissue below the skin during the milliseconds it is in contact with it. Only a small amount (less than 0.1%) of helium gas is converted to plasma, while the remaining helium gas (over 99.9%) flows over the treatment area, with the plasma beam generating enough heat to contract the skin while the excess helium gas immediately cools the treatment area.
Procedure and Recovery Time Expectations
The minimally invasive nature of Renuvion means patients can expect the procedure to be completed in the comfort of the attending physician’s office within 1-hour. A local anesthetic is applied to the injection site to ensure a painless and smooth experience for every patient. Those who elect this treatment should expect to be able to walk out of the office post-procedure without assistance and will likely experience only minimal bruising or redness at the site of treatment. Most patients report swelling disappearing within a few days of the procedure and find over-the-counter pain medications to be sufficient in treating any discomfort. Many patients return to a normal work routine within 2-5 days of receiving treatment and in general, normal exercise routines can be resumed within 2-3 weeks of undergoing Renuvion. Patients will notice physical changes and results related to treatment up to several months after the procedure has been performed. As skin cells continue to adjust, fluctuate and tighten, improved results will continue to be experienced.
See a timeline of one patient’s experience before Renuvion, 2 Days after Renuvion, and 3-weeks after Renuvion with Dr. Wright.
How long does Renuvion Last?
There is an immediate skin tightening seen right after the procedure. However, the most significant skin remodeling and tightening occur over the first year because the plasma energy induces collagen and elastin creation and remodeling of the structure of the skin. This remodeling is permanent and is expected to persist for the rest of your life. Please understand that all-natural aging processes in the body will continue.
Safety of Skin Tightening Procedures
The exclusive use of a local anesthetic to help keep patients comfortable makes Renuvion an extremely safe and highly effective procedure. The elimination of general anesthesia reduces all the risks associated with surgical infections or lengthy hospital stays. Similarly, using a small-incision approach ensures patients do not have to deal with caring for an incision point over an extended period of time. The effects of local anesthesia generally wear off the same day as the procedure is completed and patients should need nothing more than a small bandage at the site of treatment. Overall, patients find Renuvion to be an extremely painless procedure that provides dramatic results without an extensive amount of time dedicated to recovering.
Cost of Renuvion
The cost of skin tightening treatment fluctuates with the size of the area being treated. This means that final costs could be very different from patient to patient. It’s important that patients speak with their insurance providers prior to receiving treatment to see whether the cost of services might be covered under their plan. While many insurance providers consider skin tightening treatments to be elective and therefore, an out-of-pocket expense, those with underlying medical conditions will want to verify before establishing a treatment plan. In some cases, cosmetic services that have the potential to prevent future medical complications may be covered at cost. In the event prospective patients are looking for services exclusively aimed at achieving cosmetic results, the team at the St. Louis Laser Lipo and Vein Center is happy to speak with you about the many financing options we offer.
Dr. Wright’s Top 3 Benefits of Renuvion
1 – Less Invasive
Renuvion is considered a minimally invasive procedure because it can be done without skin excision or cutting. The device is inserted under the skin through small entry points, which reduces post-operative discomfort and scarring.(9,10,12).
2 – Less Downtime
With the use of small entry points and minimal disruption of the tissue, patients experience less pain, discomfort, and downtime with Renuvion compared to more invasive procedures such as an abdominoplasty, Brachioplasty or other procedures where large skin excisions are made.10,12 Additionally, studies have shown reduced pain and downtime after the use of Renuvion versus alternative minimally invasive RF technology. (9,10)
The Benefits of Setting up an Initial Consultation
Before deciding if Renuvion is right for you, it’s important to schedule an initial consultation and take time to speak with a physician more in-depth about what the procedure entails and the aesthetic goals you’ve set for yourself. Every patient is unique and our team is proud to provide a comprehensive approach to patient care. Every patient’s full medical profile and personal preferences are taken into account before an individualized plan of treatment is put into place.
An initial consultation is an important step in establishing a trusting foundation with an attending physician and finding time to ask the important questions you may have before electing to undergo a certain type of procedure. Additionally, it’s a great time to voice any concerns and cover the many service options available to our patients when it comes to cosmetic alterations. When you’re considering skin tightening services, contact us to set up a consultation and start the discussion around Renuvion. We’re here to help make sure your experience with us is as safe, comfortable, and successful as possible.
Sources
Feldman LS, et al. (eds). The SAGES Manual on the Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy (FUSE), ISBN 978‐1‐4614‐2073‐6.
Chen SS, Wright NT, Humphrey JD. Heat-induced changes in the mechanics of a collagenous tissue: isothermal free shrinkage. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 1997:109:372-378.
McDonald MB. Conductive Keratoplasty: A Radiofrequency-based Technique for the Correction of Hyperopia. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 2005;103:512-536.
Chen SS, Humphrey JD. Heat-induced changes in the mechanics of a collagenous tissue: pseudoelastic behavior at 37° C. J Biomech 1998;31:211-216.
Wright NT, Humphrey JD. Denaturation of collagen during heating: An irreversible rate process. Annu Rev Biomed Eng; 2002;4:109-128.
Ramsdell WM. Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing. Semin Plast Surg 2012;26:125-130.
Masghati S, Pedroso J, Gutierrez M, Stockwell E, Volker W, Howard DL. Comparative Thermal Effects of J-Plasma®, Monopolar, Argon, and Laser Electrosurgery in a Porcine Tissue Model. Surgical Technology International, 2019;34:1-5. PMID: 30825320.
Duncan DI and Roman S. Helium Plasma Subdermal Tissue Contraction Method of Action. Biomed J Sci & Tech Res 31(2)-2020. BJSTR. MS.ID.005075.
Kluska M, Nasseri S, Bobrovnikov V. Helium Plasma Versus Radiofrequency for Energy-Enhanced Liposuction: A Prospective Single-Blind Pilot Study (White Paper). 2020.
https://www.renuvion.com/clinical/.
Renuvion Physician Survey Results, MM0317.00 0620 – http://www.renuvion.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/renuvion-physician-survey-results-mm0317-00_070820.pdf.
Zamora J, Roman S. Subcutaneous Neck Skin Plasma Tightening. Advances in Cosmetic Surgery 2019; 2(1):89-95.
Dayan S. Aesthetic evolution drives birth of minimally invasive surgery subgroup. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019 Jun 26. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13057. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 31243875.
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