As our bodies age, it’s only natural to lose skin tone and elasticity and to experience greater difficulty losing or maintaining weight in certain problem areas. This can result in a sagging appearance anywhere on the body, from the jowls to the arms to the neck to the buttocks. While a prescription of diet and exercise can work for many when it comes to weight loss, saggy or loose skin paired with stubborn fat can feel like an impossible problem to conquer.
Laser liposuction is one of the most innovative treatments for removing problematic areas of fat on the body, and separately, Renuvion allows us to tighten sagging areas without the need for surgical intervention. Bringing the two procedures together can offer a remarkable solution to help lose those last few pounds and tighten loose or sagging skin! Ultimately these two treatments can complement each other and provide excellent results with limited downtown, helping you feel like your most confident self.
So why wait? The experts at St Louis Laser Lipo & Veins can perform these procedures and get you back to your normal routine with a tighter, slimmer body!
What is Laser Liposuction?
Patients who choose laser liposuction receive an injection of local anesthetic which targets the treatment area. Rather than using general anesthesia, the patient is fully conscious and the surgeon is focused on providing a relaxing and painless experience. The combination of the laser and cannula allows the physician to remove fat deposits more easily and with more precision, resulting in less bleeding and generally provides a quicker recovery time than traditional liposuction.
Laser liposuction is performed as an outpatient procedure rather than traditional liposuction which requires an overnight hospital stay. Patients can expect to leave the office unassisted the same day as the procedure and can resume normal activities within 24-48 hours following the treatment. We will walk you through each step of liposuction recovery and help you toward your ultimate goal.
What is Renuvion?
Similarly, Renuvion is an outpatient procedure that requires limited downtime. It 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. Unlike resurfacing treatments that can treat surface issues but don’t do much for sagging, Renuvion remodels the top layer of skin and tightens underlying layers, producing a smoother and noticeably lifted appearance. Effects are visible during treatment, so the procedure allows for precision. Renuvion can be used in many areas of the face and body. From facial rejuvenation to neck wrinkles to sagging of the buttocks, Renuvion has proven to be effective.
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 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.
Who are the ideal candidates for Laser Liposuction and/or Renuvion skin tightening?
As with any treatment, there are certain qualifications that categorize a potential patient as ideal for the selected approach. Patients who are considering laser liposuction should be in overall good health, maintain a healthy body weight in relation to their height, and participate regularly in physical activities. While laser liposuction is not intended as a weight loss solution, it can help patients remove stubborn pockets of fat deposits that haven’t disappeared with diet or exercise. Patients often elect to use laser liposuction for its successful sculpting and permanent results.
Renuvion is an innovative solution to skin tightening that eliminates the need for major incisions and is commonly referred to as J-Plasma. The ideal patients for Renuvion procedures are those who experience some degree of loose skin which skin resurfacing and injectable fillers are not able to fully correct. Patients seeking a minimally invasive procedure that successfully tightens skin in problematic areas of the body may want to consider Renuvion as a treatment option, either paired with laser liposuction on as a stand-alone procedure.
Laser liposuction & Renuvion Treat Most Areas
Both laser liposuction and Renuvion treatments are extremely versatile approaches that can treat many areas of the body with ease. Patients often choose a laser liposuction procedure over traditional liposuction for its ability to treat both large and small problem areas with ease and choose Renuvion over traditional procedures such as tummy tucks due to it’s less invasive nature. Both procedures have proven successful on the chin and jowls, the upper arms, the bra-line and chest, and on the abs, flanks, back, hips, thighs, buttocks, and calves.
Minimally Invasive
Patients who elect to use laser liposuction will undergo the procedure in the comfort of the performing physician’s medical office. Prior to the procedure, areas to be treated will be clearly marked by the physician and a local anesthetic will be applied to numb those same areas. The physician then uses a laser to hover over these marks, and as the laser travels, fat cells begin to break up and liquify. The laser will also cause small vessels near the surface to coagulate which will result in less bleeding and swelling after the procedure is complete. Once fat cells begin to liquify, the fluid can then be released using a small microcannula and gentle suction. The entire process results in skin tightening, which leads to a more ideal appearance for patients.
Laser liposuction is far less invasive than traditional liposuction, which involves large tubes to remove fat from the body and requires general anesthesia and an overnight hospital stay. On the other hand, laser liposuction treatment only requires small incisions in the treatment area that allow the laser cannula to be inserted and to reach the fat. The laser liquifies the fat first, and the cannula uses suction to then pull the fat out and also helps limit bruising patients would otherwise experience in traditional liposuction. The procedure itself does not require stitches and risks associated with general anesthesia are completely eliminated. Permanent fat removal means patients do not have to worry about restrictive diets following the procedure or loosening skin.
Renuvion is also 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.
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.
Little Downtime
Laser liposuction is a painless process that results in minimal bruising for patients. While bruising disappears within 2-3 days, the majority of patients will be able to resume normal daily activities within 24-hours of the procedure. The majority of patients report minimal bruising, and most pain can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication for discomfort and patients will be scheduled for a follow-up visit as the physician will want to ensure results are on track. Many patients choose to wear compression garments over the treated areas in the days following the procedure to assist the body in finding its new shape successfully.
Like laser liposuction, Renuvion also uses small entry points and minimal disruption of the tissue, so 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. Additionally, studies have shown reduced pain and downtime after the use of Renuvion versus alternative minimally invasive RF technology. The use of helium gas produces a cooling effect that mitigates any discomfort or pain during treatment. Post-treatment discomfort for treatment of smaller areas is typically managed with OTC pain medication alone.
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.
Rapid & Permanent Results
Laser liposuction provides the benefit of permanent fat removal to patients. While it’s not possible to remove all fat cells in the body, the number is significantly reduced through this procedure, leaving patients with a permanently altered physical shape. The most effective way to ensure the continued success of this process is for patients to stick to a personalized diet and exercise plan post-procedure. Keeping weight gain at a minimum will help patients maintain the results of their laser liposuction.With traditional liposuction, patients often have sagging skin left over from where the fat was removed. By using laser liposuction, these patients will have tighter skin and more sculpted treatment areas. The laser helps stimulate collagen production and tissue coagulation, which both result in a tighter and sculpted appearance.
Patients are often thrilled to see minimal, yet immediate results right after the procedure is completed. A more compact silhouette can often be noted at this time; however, full results should be expected over the following 6-8 weeks. It takes a certain amount of time for skin and surrounding areas to adjust to a new body contour, but the ability to see a significant difference immediately after treatment is not something traditional liposuction provides.
Where most non-surgical approaches (including laser lipo as mentioned above) require multiple treatments to see noticeable results, Renuvion usually delivers results with just one treatment! It is the only device that uses helium and RF waves to create a stream of plasma energy. This unique technology delivers a level of efficacy that’s unmatched. We know the aging process can’t be stopped, but through the use of energy devices, like Renuvion, we know it is possible to contract soft tissues and start the collagen rebuilding process known as neocollagensis. This process takes 6-9 months which is why effects will improve over time.
Why Wait? Contact Dr. Wright for a Free Consultation Today!
The first step towards determining if laser lipo in St. Louis is right for you is to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Wright at the St. Louis Laser Liposuction & Vein Center. Taking a comprehensive approach to patient care, Dr. Wright and his staff utilize an initial consultation to review a patient’s medical profile and to discuss the many options available on an in-depth level. It’s important that every patient understands the procedure they elect and has time to ask questions, voice concerns, and state preferences before moving forward with a personalized treatment plan. We understand that every cosmetic procedure comes with an emotional impact and we’re here to help patients find a path to change that is comfortable, safe, and convenient.
Note: Patients considering laser liposuction with certain underlying conditions will want to avoid this type of treatment as it could result in medical complications. Those suffering from significant chronic liver complications or blood disorders will want to see alternative treatment, as laser liposuction could put these individuals at risk for infection. Similarly, those suffering from chronic kidney issues, heart problems, or connective tissue disorders—including lupus or rheumatoid arthritis—will want to avoid laser liposuction and seek a more appropriate and safe method.
