Renuvion® Skin Tightening

Advanced Skin Tightening With Helium Plasma Technology

Loose or sagging skin can develop with age, pregnancy, weight changes, or after fat-reduction procedures. Renuvion® offers a minimally invasive approach for patients who want firmer, more defined skin without undergoing extensive skin-removal surgery.

At Premier Functional Medicine, Renuvion may be used on its own or alongside procedures such as liposuction and BeautiFill® fat transfer, depending on your needs and treatment goals.

What Is Renuvion?

Renuvion is an FDA-cleared cosmetic technology that combines radiofrequency (RF) energy with helium plasma to treat tissue beneath the skin.

During treatment, helium gas is energized with RF energy to create a precisely controlled plasma stream. This energy is applied to the connective tissue below the skin, producing an immediate contraction effect while also encouraging the body to generate new collagen and elastin over time.

Because the treatment works beneath the skin rather than exclusively at the surface, it can address the deeper tissues that contribute to skin looseness.

Results generally continue to develop over several months as the body's natural collagen-remodeling process progresses.

How Renuvion Works

Renuvion's combination of helium plasma and radiofrequency energy allows treatment to rapidly heat targeted connective tissue while limiting unnecessary heat exposure to surrounding areas.

The treatment is designed to:

• Contract collagen-rich tissue
• Encourage new collagen formation
• Support elastin production
• Improve skin firmness
• Enhance body contours
• Smooth areas of mild to moderate skin laxity

The technology also cools quickly after energy delivery, helping control the amount of thermal exposure in the treated tissue.

Areas That Can Be Treated

Renuvion can be used on a variety of areas where loose skin or reduced definition is a concern.

Face & Neck

• Loose skin along the neck
• Jowls
• Reduced jawline definition
• Lower-face laxity
• Fullness beneath the chin
• Mild facial skin looseness

Upper Body

• Upper arms
• Bra-line areas
• Upper back
• Chest
• Male chest contouring following liposuction

Abdomen & Waist

• Upper abdomen
• Lower abdomen
• Loose abdominal skin following pregnancy
• Skin laxity after weight loss
• Flanks
• Love handles
• Waistline contouring

Lower Body

• Inner thighs
• Outer thighs
• Buttocks
• Areas around the knees

The patient guide identifies these areas as common applications for treatment.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Renuvion may be appropriate for adults who have mild to moderate skin laxity and want noticeable tightening without the larger incisions associated with traditional skin-removal surgery.

You may be a good candidate if you:

• Are generally healthy
• Are close to your preferred or stable body weight
• Have reasonably good skin quality
• Have realistic expectations about your outcome
• Have mild to moderate loose skin
• Want an alternative to more extensive excisional surgery

Renuvion can be especially useful for skin changes associated with:

• Weight loss
• Pregnancy
• Aging
• Liposuction
• Fat-transfer procedures

When Renuvion May Not Be Appropriate

Not every patient is a candidate. Your provider will review your health history and examine your skin before recommending treatment.

Renuvion may not be suitable for patients who:

• Are pregnant
• Have uncontrolled diabetes
• Have an active infection affecting the treatment area
• Have substantial excess skin better addressed surgically
• Have significant bleeding disorders
• Have expectations that cannot reasonably be achieved with the procedure
• Cannot discontinue smoking during the recovery period

Patients with more extensive loose or hanging skin may require an excisional procedure instead.

Benefits of Renuvion

Early Benefits

Patients may notice improvements such as:

• Immediate tissue contraction
• Better contour and definition
• Firmer-feeling skin
• Very small access points
• Limited visible scarring
• Less recovery time than traditional skin-removal surgery

Progressive Benefits

Renuvion's results are not limited to what is visible immediately after treatment.

Over approximately 6–12 months, continued collagen and elastin remodeling may contribute to:

• Progressive skin tightening
• Improved skin texture
• Firmer tissue
• More refined contours
• Longer-lasting improvement

The guide notes that tightening and skin-quality improvements can continue to develop throughout this period.

Common Concerns Renuvion Can Address

Renuvion may be considered for:

• Loose abdominal skin
• Crepey skin
• Mild neck laxity
• Loose upper-arm skin
• Inner-thigh laxity
• Skin looseness following liposuction
• Age-related skin laxity
• Mild excess skin after weight loss

What Happens During a Renuvion Procedure?

Step 1: Consultation

Your treatment begins with a personalized evaluation. Your provider will consider factors such as:

• Skin quality
• Amount of skin laxity
• Treatment areas
• Medical history
• Cosmetic goals

This evaluation helps determine whether Renuvion is appropriate and whether combining it with another procedure may produce a better result.

Step 2: Preparation

The type of anesthesia or sedation used depends on the size and complexity of the treatment.

Options may include:

• Local anesthesia
• Oral sedation
• IV sedation
• General anesthesia for more extensive procedures

Step 3: Treatment

Small access points, generally around 2–3 mm, are made in the treatment area.

A specialized Renuvion handpiece is then placed beneath the skin. The provider passes the device through carefully selected treatment paths while helium plasma energy is delivered to the underlying tissue.

Treatment time varies depending on the number and size of areas being treated but is generally approximately 30–120 minutes.

Step 4: Going Home

Compression garments may be placed after treatment when appropriate.

Renuvion is generally an outpatient procedure, so patients typically return home the same day.

Renuvion Recovery Timeline

Recovery varies depending on the treatment area and whether Renuvion is performed by itself or combined with another procedure.

First 48 Hours

It is common to experience:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Mild soreness
• A sensation of tightness
• Temporary numbness

Discomfort is generally described in the guide as mild to moderate.

First Week

Many patients are able to:

• Walk comfortably
• Return to desk-based work
• Continue wearing their prescribed compression garment
• Begin noticing early contour or tightening changes

Weeks 2–6

During this period:

• Swelling usually continues to decrease
• Skin contraction progresses
• Patients gradually return to more normal activity

Months 3–6

Collagen remodeling becomes increasingly important during this phase, and results may become more noticeable.

Months 6–12

Skin quality and tightening can continue improving, with the more mature result developing during this period.  

Combining Renuvion With Other Treatments

Depending on your goals, Renuvion may be paired with complementary cosmetic or regenerative treatments.

BeautiFill® Fat Transfer

A combined treatment may allow the provider to:

• Remove unwanted fat
• Improve skin tightness
• Transfer harvested fat to areas where additional volume is desired

Liposuction

Liposuction can address unwanted fat while Renuvion focuses on skin contraction, potentially improving overall contour and definition.

Morpheus8

Morpheus8 may complement Renuvion by addressing concerns closer to the skin's surface, including:

• Skin texture
• Fine lines
• Pigmentation

CO₂ Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing may be considered for concerns such as:

• Wrinkles
• Sun-related skin damage
• Surface texture

PRP or Exosome-Based Treatments

The guide notes these may be used as complementary treatments intended to support:

• Healing
• Collagen production
• Recovery

Possible Risks and Side Effects

Renuvion is a medical procedure, and no procedure is completely free of risk.

Potential complications identified in the patient guide include:

• Bruising
• Swelling
• Temporary numbness
• Infection
• Fluid accumulation, or seroma
• Persistent tenderness
• Burns, although described as rare
• Nerve irritation
• Skin irregularities
• Hyperpigmentation
• Delayed healing
• Scarring
• Need for a revision procedure
• A cosmetic result that does not meet expectations

Following your provider's pre- and post-treatment instructions is an important part of reducing avoidable complications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Renuvion painful?

Most patients experience soreness for several days afterward. The patient guide compares the sensation to what you might feel after an intense workout.

Does Renuvion leave scars?

The procedure uses very small access points rather than large surgical incisions. These generally heal with minimal visible scarring.

When will I see results?

Some tightening may be noticeable soon after treatment.

However, collagen remodeling takes time, and improvement can continue for approximately 6–12 months.

How long do the results last?

Results are intended to be long-lasting, particularly when patients maintain a stable body weight and healthy lifestyle.

Renuvion does not stop the normal aging process, so the skin will continue to change naturally over time.

Can Renuvion replace a tummy tuck?

Not in every case.

Renuvion is intended primarily for mild to moderate skin laxity. Patients with substantial amounts of excess skin may still require surgical removal of the skin to achieve their desired result.

Can Renuvion be performed again?

Yes. Depending on future aging, weight changes, and cosmetic goals, some patients may consider additional treatment.

Preparing for Your Renuvion Procedure

Always follow the individualized instructions provided by your medical team.

Approximately Two Weeks Before Treatment

Your provider may instruct you to:

• Stop smoking
• Avoid nicotine products
• Review prescription and over-the-counter medications
• Arrange transportation for the day of treatment
• Obtain compression garments if needed

Approximately One Week Before Treatment

Your instructions may include:

• Avoiding aspirin unless it is medically required
• Avoiding NSAIDs when advised
• Discontinuing certain herbal supplements that may increase bleeding
• Staying adequately hydrated
• Increasing dietary protein

The Night Before

You may be asked to:

• Shower with antibacterial soap
• Avoid applying lotions or oils
• Follow fasting instructions when sedation or anesthesia will be used

The specific medication and fasting instructions provided by your treating clinician should take priority.  

After Your Procedure

Following your recovery instructions carefully can support healing and help protect your result.

Patients may be advised to:

• Wear compression garments as instructed
• Take several short walks throughout the day
• Avoid strenuous activity until medically cleared
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Consume adequate dietary protein
• Avoid cigarettes and nicotine
• Protect treated skin from excessive sun exposure
• Keep all scheduled follow-up appointments

Supporting Long-Term Results

Maintaining healthy habits after treatment can help preserve your body contour and overall skin quality.

The guide recommends considering:

• Regular strength training
• Adequate protein intake
• Maintaining a stable weight
• Proper hydration
• Consistent sun protection
• Nutrition that supports collagen production
• Medical-grade skincare when appropriate
• Hormone optimization when clinically appropriate
• Ongoing body-composition monitoring

Why Choose Premier Functional Medicine?

At Premier Functional Medicine, aesthetic treatments are approached as part of a broader strategy for healthy aging and overall wellness.

Rather than focusing exclusively on tightening loose skin, treatment plans can be personalized around your health history, anatomy, lifestyle, and aesthetic goals.

The practice emphasizes:

• Comprehensive consultations
• Individualized treatment planning
• Advanced aesthetic technology
• Patient safety
• Support throughout the recovery process
• Natural-looking, durable results

The original patient guide describes this approach as combining aesthetic technology with broader wellness-focused care.

Schedule Your Consultation

If loose or sagging skin is affecting your confidence, a personalized consultation can help determine whether Renuvion is appropriate for your needs.

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