I Tried Renuvion to Tighten My Stomach, and the Results Were Amazing

Body contouring is very hot right now. This comes as no surprise to anyone who follows the latest plastic surgery and aesthetic trends. Liposuction and body-tightening treatments not only continue to rise in popularity, but they fit right in with the current trend of natural, "undetectable" plastic surgeries. People want to look better, without someone being able to put a finger on what changed.

After being very focused on my skin from the face up all winter, I got the itch to give the skin on my body a little TLC before the sun hits it. I decided that I wanted to get liposuction and tighten up my abdomen as much as possible. After years in the gym, running miles, pilates, and sticking to a veggie-rich pescatarian diet, I still had stubborn fat on my stomach that just would not go away.

With a hop, skip, and a consultation, I was going for liposuction with a Renuvion treatment to finally get the stomach I've always deserved. Below, read all about my surgical experience and what happened when I tried the skin-tightening treatment Renuvion.

David Shafer, MD, FACS, is a double board-certified plastic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Evelyn Ramirez is a licensed medical aesthetician and the founder of Evelyn Aesthetics in New York City.

Renuvion is an FDA-cleared and minimally invasive skin-tightening and rejuvenation device. "It is the only device on the market that is FDA-cleared for contracting subcutaneous soft tissue and providing a contour-like effect," says double board-certified plastic surgeon David Shafer, MD, FACS. Essentially, Renuvion stimulates the subcutaneous soft tissue, which lies right beneath the skin, using applied heat that makes the tissue contract, resulting in a tighter appearance of the skin.

Renuvion can be used on its own or in combination with surgery; mine was used during liposuction surgery of my abdomen, but more on that in just a moment. It is also FDA-cleared to work with liposuction surgery to enhance overall results. The device can be used for tightening or contouring the skin around the neck, jawline, and other body areas, including the arms, thighs, and flanks. Dr. Shafer says, "Renuvion can provide a non-surgical neck lift option as it improves the continuous and tightens the skin without the need for more invasive surgery" in areas such as the neck and jawline, where the skin tends to be thinner and more prone to loss in skin laxity.

Renuvion is by no means a new device. "Not only have I been using Renuvion in my practice for several years now, but it has replaced older laser technologies we have used previously. I am impressed by the ease, smoothness, and tightness achieved. My patients have gotten amazing results with the device," says Dr. Shafer.

Unlike many other skin-tightening treatments that require a series of appointments to see the best results, Renuvion is a one-and-done procedure. This is not only because it's commonly used during surgery (which you tend only to do once), but it's powerful enough to get the job done in just one session. On its own, Renuvion is a quick treatment with minimal downtime and a fairly easy recovery. Remember, if it's used in tandem with surgery, expect a longer recovery.

Dr. Shafer describes Renuvion as "a modern alternative to traditional skin-tightening technologies." Performed under general or local anesthesia, depending on the treated area, a small incision is made for the device to enter underneath the skin. Dr. Shafer notes that even if Renuvion is not being performed in conjunction with fat removal, "a liposuction cannula would still be used to create an area for Renuvion to be performed under the skin."

The technology itself "combines helium plasma and radiofrequency energy to create a controlled thermal effect on the skin. The treatment works by delivering this unique combination directly to the collagen-rich tissue under the skin," says Dr. Shafer.

Renuvion can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the location being treated. "When smaller areas are treated, local anesthetic is a great option, but for larger areas or multiple areas at the same time, we recommend IV [sedation] or light general anesthesia," says Dr. Shafer.

Good candidates for Renuvion have minimal to moderate skin laxity and are looking to improve the appearance of their body, neck, and jawline. "Renuvion is great for the patient that is either post-weight loss or a few pounds away from their goal weight to tighten up the skin," says Dr. Shafer.

If you have severe skin laxity or thin skin, Renuvion will not be a sufficient option on its own. Dr. Shafer points out that the treatment would need to be coupled with more invasive surgical options, such as a facelift or tummy tuck. And, of course, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have any chronic health conditions, are a heavy smoker, or you have any active skin conditions or infections, you are not a good candidate for Renuvion.

The cost of the treatment depends on the provider, geographic location, area of the body being treated, the number of areas treated, and whether or not you use it as an add-on for surgical intervention. Patients can expect to pay anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000, with consideration that each treatment is personalized. Additionally, the cost can also be affected by whether or not it is performed in-office or at a hospital and which type of anesthesia (general, IV sedation, or local) is used.

My Renuvion treatment was performed during a liposuction procedure on my abdomen by Dr. Shafer at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue. The entire process — from the consultation up to and including the day of my surgery — was a breeze. After a quick assessment of my abdomen, Dr. Shafer told me that I was a great candidate not only for liposuction but also for Renuvion. He explained that anytime he performs liposuction, there is a risk of producing loose skin, especially if you are removing larger amounts of fat. While my own procedure was liposuction by name, no matter which way you cut it (pun intended), I considered it more of a fine-tuning or "body contouring" procedure.

For my surgery and treatment, I went under general anesthesia, which allowed Dr. Shafer to be a bit more aggressive with my liposuction to give me the best results possible. During my surgery, he removed 600cc of fat from the anterior abdomen, which Dr. Shafer says is equivalent to "about two cans of Coke." After liposuctioning my abdomen, Dr. Shafer used Renuvion, placing the device through the same three entry ports on either side of my lower abdomen and inside my belly button that he used for my liposuction.

"Liposuction must be performed first, then followed by Renuvion. It has to be done this way because the Renuvion involves inflating under the skin with medical-grade helium for the treatment, so we make that space for it with the liposuction," says Dr. Shafer. The entire surgery plus Renuvion treatment took about 45 minutes.

Immediately upon waking up from surgery, I looked down to see my stomach was wrapped in three layers of a compression garment, which looked like a bullet-proof vest. A layer of foam was placed in between my skin and the compression garment to prevent any indentations or irregularities from forming on my skin as I healed. Additionally, there were three small bandages slightly larger than a regular-sized band-aid on my stomach at the three entry ports where Dr. Shafer performed my liposuction. The entry ports were closed using dissolvable stitches so that I would not need to return to his office to have them removed.

Aside from the usual post-surgical recovery — which for liposuction includes an extremely uncomfortable compression garment for the abdomen to manage swelling and support my results — my recovery from both the liposuction and Renuvion was fairly easy. When I got home from my surgery, I remained in bed for the most part, until the following day when I was finally able to shower. After I showered, I removed the three small bandages on my stomach to let them breathe and also to apply the antibacterial ointment that Dr. Shafer had prescribed. I did this twice a day for the first week post-surgery. Because I was encouraged to move around to prevent swelling, I only stayed home for two days after surgery and went for walks on the third day. I was able to return to work with only minimal discomfort on the fourth day post-surgery.

I went back to Dr. Shafer for a one-week post-surgical follow-up, and he was pleasantly surprised at how flat my stomach looked and how well I was healing. He told me that I could return to lightly working out but not to do anything too strenuous for the next month. He also made it a point to tell me that while at the computer (or anytime I am sitting) to make sure that I am sitting up straight to prevent any lines from forming on my stomach. After all, I was still freshly healing from surgery.

I wore a compression garment consistently for two weeks (and compression underwear for two weeks after that). At one point, I did to take it off while I was sleeping because I felt like my body was being crushed, but I survived. I experienced some numbness and tingling in my abdomen, very mild discomfort, fairly minimal bruising (thanks to Renuvion, as Dr. Shafer mentioned), and swelling both in my abdomen and pelvic area, but much of it subsided after two weeks. "Most people experience some swelling, redness, or bruising in the treated area, which should subside within a few days to a week," says Dr. Shafer.

As part of the recovery process and in an effort to get the best results possible, Dr. Shafer recommended that I go for a few sessions of lymphatic drainage to help with swelling and aid in tissue recovery. I visited licensed medical aesthetician Evelyn Ramirez for three sessions of postoperative lymphatic drainage, spaced one week apart as recommended. In the months following surgery, I continued to go for lymphatic draining sessions with Ramirez. "Based on progress, some patients benefit from maintenance sessions every few weeks to optimize skin tightening and circulation, and can especially be beneficial if you are prone to fluid retention," says Ramirez.

"Lymphatic drainage is essential after liposuction because it helps your body eliminate excess fluid, reduce swelling, and prevent complications like fibrosis. Without proper drainage, fluid can accumulate, leading to prolonged swelling, discomfort, and uneven skin texture. By stimulating the lymphatic system, we accelerate healing, improve circulation, and enhance the final contour of your results, allowing you to recover faster and feel better sooner," she says.

Ramirez also points out that postoperative lymphatic drainage is not the same type of lymphatic massage that you schedule at your favorite wellness center or spa. While she says that both help to stimulate the lymphatic system, post-surgical lymphatic drainage requires specific training, especially since you are working with delicate, healing tissue.

I also made sure throughout the healing process to hydrate constantly and get moving: "Drinking plenty of water and doing light movement can not only enhance the effects of lymphatic drainage but can give you better surgical results."

The most ironic part of the whole recovery process was that, despite having had liposuction, I could not fit into any of my jeans normally for about a month after surgery.

Now, three months post-surgery and treatment, I am extremely happy with both my liposuction and Renuvion results. I notice that my stomach is, of course, much more contoured and that my abs are finally peeking through, with the skin on my stomach being noticeably tighter. "The full results from Renuvion are apparent immediately, but typically the final results are achieved at the three to six-month mark," says Dr. Shafer.

Though I had initially noticed slight rippling in my abdomen about a month after surgery, Dr. Shafer assured me that it was just my tissues healing; at three months post-surgery, the rippling is almost gone. To say the least, I am extremely excited about continuing to bare all, albeit with tighter abs this summer, while also maintaining my results for the long run.

"Depending upon the patient's health, genetics, and lifestyle, Renuvion can result in long-lasting effects, lasting up to about five years or more. Your individual skin health, sun exposure, and additional factors may affect your collagen loss and impact the longevity of your results," says Dr. Shafer.

Taryn Brooke is a beauty writer and editor born and bred in New York City who has been in digital media for over 10 years. She is a contributing beauty writer for PS, Allure, Byrdie, and Well+Good.