Renuvion Skin Tightening in Denver

No. Renuvion is a skin-tightening treatment, not a fat-removal treatment. What removes the fat is the liposuction we perform in the same session. Renuvion is what addresses the loose skin that was already there or that gets created by the liposuction.

Yes. Renuvion is FDA-approved for skin contraction following liposuction and for contraction of subcutaneous soft tissue.

Renuvion is performed at the Surgery Center of Colorado, our private state-licensed ambulatory surgery center in Littleton, Colorado, in the same session as your liposuction. Most patients are treated under general anesthesia or IV sedation with local anesthesia depending on the treatment area. Liposuction is performed first to remove the fat, refine the contour, and create space for the Renuvion cannula to be placed under the skin. Renuvion uses the same small incisions (typically less than one centimeter) to tighten the overlying skin. Total procedure time is usually 1 to 4 hours depending on how large the treatment areas is. You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours after the procedure.

Because Renuvion is added to the liposuction, the recovery is a liposuction recovery. Expect swelling and bruising in the treated areas during the first days. A compression garment is worn as directed by your surgeon after the procedure; the timing and duration depend on the areas treated. Most patients return to desk work within about a week. Light exercise typically resumes at around three weeks and strenuous activity at around six weeks. Residual swelling can take 8 to 12 weeks to fully resolve.

External devices (laser, ultrasound, and radiofrequency treatments such as Ultherapy and Sofwave) work through the surface of the skin. They can be useful for very mild laxity but are limited in how much tightening they can achieve because the energy has to travel through the skin surface to reach the tissue below. Renuvion is delivered beneath the skin through a small cannula (the same cannula path used for liposuction), which allows more meaningful tightening as it provides immediate tightening and collagen stimulation. Renuvion is more involved than external/topical treatments because it requires an incision and sedation. This is also reflected in recovery, which is more significant than external skin tightening devices but is less involved than a skin-removal surgery, such as an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), a brachioplasty (arm lift), or a thigh lift. Renuvion tightens the skin that is there rather than removing it, which is why it works well for mild laxity but not for moderate or severe laxity.

Some tightening is visible immediately after the procedure due to the thermal energy contracting the fibrous network underneath your skin. The treated area continues to improve for 6 to 9 months as new collagen forms and remodels the tissue. The final skin tightening effect is typically not visible until 9 to 12 months following surgery.

Yes, and it works well in combination with submental (under-chin) liposuction to tighten the neck and jawline. If a face or neck application is what interests you, we discuss that specifically at consultation.

Renuvion produces long-lasting results to the treated skin. The tissue contracts on contact, and new collagen continues to form for 6 to 9 months. Results can be maintained for years when you keep a stable weight and protect the treated skin from sun damage. Renuvion does not stop the effects of gravity or aging on the treated area over time, and significant weight fluctuations can affect the result the same way they affect any body-contoured area.

Renuvion uses the same small incisions as the liposuction it is paired with. These are typically less than one centimeter and are placed inconspicuously. Incision marks continue to mature and fade for up to a year.

Renuvion has a defined safety profile. Because the helium plasma cools the tissue almost instantaneously, the risk of burn is lower than with some other energy devices, but potential complications still include swelling, bruising, temporary numbness, changes in skin sensation, uneven tightening, and rarely burns or scarring. We review your specific risk factors at consultation.