Renuvion®: The new method for body contouring and tissue tightening

For decades, surgery was one of the most effective methods of shaping the body, eliminating localised fat deposits and tightening sagging skin. However, each operation left long and highly visible scars. With the introduction of tumescent liposuction around 35 years ago, a minimally invasive alternative for body shaping was offered. The liposuction technique has been refined and improved over the years and is now an indispensable part of aesthetic surgery.

Sagging skin as the main problem

The limiting factor of liposuction to this day is that the skin may not retract adequately after fat volume reduction, which can lead to unsightly bumps and wrinkles postoperatively. These are sometimes more disturbing than the fat pad itself. If there is already sagging tissue preoperatively, surgical tightening is still preferred for an optimal result. However, the demand for minimally invasive operations and treatments is increasing. Patients are accepting fewer and fewer scars and want to be fit for everyday life again as quickly as possible.

Liposuction with skin tightening effect

In the recent past, the introduction of combination treatments using ultrasound or laser, for example, has achieved a certain effect, but this was usually only temporary and very discreet. The latest experience and research into tissue tightening shows that radio frequency energy is one of the best ways to tighten the tissue. This is where treatment with Renuvion® comes into play. Renuvion® is a new technique that has been used for skin tightening on the American market for several years.

This latest technique combines radio frequency energy with helium gas. The Renuvion® technique has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The long-lasting effect of this technique is due to the fact that Renuvion® tightens the deep subcutaneous collagen and not just the outer layers of the skin. The post-operative results are significantly better than those achieved with liposuction alone.

The Renuvion® handpiece is inserted under the skin and activated when it is withdrawn. The handpiece is then pulled through the tissue to which the helium plasma energy is coupled. The energy is delivered to the nearest tissue or structure.

The flow of radiofrequency energy and plasma into the tissue is clearly visible. During the application, the majority of the energy is delivered directly to the connective tissue. Collagen tightening is achieved through controlled heating, which enables immediate tissue tightening. The final result is visible after around 6 to 12 months, when the body has completed wound healing.

Deep heating and new collagen stimulation

The helium gas is channelled through a long, thin cannula and combined with radio frequency at the tip, creating a fluctuating energy beam. The cannula is inserted under the skin through small incisions about four millimetres long. The energy beam jumps 360° and heats the tissue to 85°C for a fraction of a second. This shrinks the collagen in depth by 40 to 50 per cent and tightens the skin on the surface. At the same time, new collagen growth is stimulated.

The short exposure time results in shrinkage, but does not cause a burn. This deep effect has a clear and long-lasting tightening effect on the skin. The scientifically proven effectiveness of Renuvion® stands for a particularly gentle but also very effective method of tightening tissue. The tightening effect is so pronounced that it can sometimes be seen and felt immediately after treatment, even if the final result often takes up to six to twelve months.

Combination with liposuction or as a pure tightening operation

The Renuvion® treatment is usually carried out in combination with liposuction. First, the unwanted fat is suctioned out using an approximately four millimetre fine cannula. The Renuvion® cannula is then inserted and the tissue is tightened with multiple passes. The Renuvion® treatment can also be performed without prior liposuction. However, the tissue must also be prepared (tunnelled) with a liposuction cannula so that the cannula with the plasma jet can be inserted. The most popular areas of application and those with the best results are the neck and chin, arms, abdomen, back, thighs and knees.

Before and after image of a Renuvion® neck lift on a patient one month after the procedure. The result will improve once the wound has fully healed. (Image: © Aesthetic Medicine Pyramide - Haus zur Pyramide)
Before and after image of a Renuvion® arm tissue tightening in a 71-year-old female patient. Centre 5 weeks, bottom 12 weeks after the operation (Image: © Renuvion.com)

Not suitable for high-risk patients

The treatment is not suitable for patients with health problems such as diabetes, significant heart or lung disease, circulatory insufficiency (especially due to the general anaesthetic) or for those who have recently had surgery close to the area to be treated, as well as for patients suffering from tumours or open wounds and eczema. As with all aesthetic procedures, general fitness for surgery must be assessed before such treatment can be considered.

Limitations of the Renuvion® treatment

The Renuvion® treatment has the advantages of only very small scars, a short downtime and quickly visible and long-lasting results. However, the Renuvion® treatment also has its limits. If there is too much excess and sagging skin, the best result can still be achieved by surgical skin tightening.

Arrange a no-obligation consultation with us to find out detailed information about individual treatment and the costs of a Renuvion® treatment.

Illustrations: © Renuvion.com
Published in the magazine "COSMEDIC by SGMK" No. 14

Dr Rosmarie Adelsberger EMBA

Specialist FMH and EBOPRAS for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.

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