Renuvion (formerly J-Plasma or J Plasty) is a minimally invasive skin rejuvenation and firming treatment that is FDA-cleared for:
- treating moderate to severe wrinkles and rhytides (aka lines) in patients with Fitzpatrick skin types I–III (via the Renuvion Dermal Handpiece), a treatment its manufacturer refers to as “facial renewal”Â
- addressing skin laxity on the neck and under the chin (the submental area), using the Renuvion APR Handpiece
- tightening loose skin on the body, following liposuction, with the Renuvion APR Handpiece (a new indication announced by the FDA in April 2023)
Even prior to its most recent FDA clearance, the device was commonly used “off label” to shrink and smooth skin on several areas of the body, including the abdomen, bra line, back, thighs, breasts, arms, knees, and legs.
Renuvion works by delivering a precise stream of cold plasma energy—created by energizing helium gas with radiofrequency (RF) waves—to the surface of the skin, as a resurfacing treatment, or underneath it (“subdermally”), using a long, thin tube called a cannula.
Subdermally, the combination of high-energy heat and the plasma’s cold temperature causes collagen to contract and skin to tighten.Â
Via inconspicuous, tiny incisions, the device delivers energy to the underside of the skin, instantly firming from the inside out, with the built-in safety of tissue cooling (courtesy of the helium gas).Â
Results continue to improve as the body heals and new collagen forms. Â
“Renuvion includes helium, which cools the skin, so there is less thermal injury to the superficial skin” and a lower risk of burns than body contouring treatments that rely on heat alone, says Dr. Umbareen Mahmood, a plastic surgeon in New York City. However, this assumes that the procedure is being performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologic surgeon who has vast experience with the device.
The skin tightening treatment is commonly paired with liposuction, for optimal body contouring results.Â
Beverly Hills, California, plastic surgeon Dr. Charles Galanis finds that radiofrequency energy technologies like Renuvion “are bridging the gap between people who need something like an arm lift and people who don’t but still have loose skin—in other words, giving them something short of surgery to tighten skin.” In fact, some plastic surgeons market Renuvion for the arms as a "scarless arm lift."
He still finds, however, that Renuvion works best as a complement to other procedures. “If someone is coming in because their arms are a trouble spot, it’s rare that [the problem] is just skin. For most people, particularly those in their 30s to 50s, it’s a combination of excess fat and [lax] skin.” He’ll remove the fat first via liposuction and then insert the Renuvion cannula into a lipo incision, to tighten skin and improve the result.Â
Someone with more severe skin laxity, particularly after extreme weight loss or multiple pregnancies, usually isn't a good candidate for this procedure alone. In that situation, plastic surgeons generally recommend a surgical procedure, like a tummy tuck, to remove significant excess skin.
