Every plastic surgeon– myself included – wants to give every patient spectacular results with zero trade-off. But traditionally, there’s been a correlation between “gain and pain.” For the best result, you’re going to need to endure some downtime. In other words: there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
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Every plastic surgeon– myself included – wants to give every patient spectacular results with zero trade-off. But traditionally, there’s been a correlation between “gain and pain.” For the best result, you’re going to need to endure some downtime. In other words: there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Understanding this trade-off, in my conversations with patients, I’ve always strived to offer the most comprehensive transformation that’s feasible for the patient given their unique anatomy and individual expectations. While the skill of your surgeon is the most important variable in the quality of the results, recent advancements in technology have enhanced what we’re able to do—improving results, decreasing downtime and even opening the possibility of a scarless option for patients who may otherwise have had no alternative to invasive surgery. Renuvion, by Apyx Medical, is one of the most significant of these recent advancements.
Benefits of System
Here’s a scenario we’ve all experienced: There’s a new treatment getting a ton of hype. Interested and cautiously optimistic about the advertised results, you do your homework…but you can’t really find anything about how it’s any different from a hundred other things being offered at your local medspa. Sound familiar? That’s because true innovation has been scarce in the last two decades in aesthetics, and most “new” laser/RF/ultrasound treatments are simply variations on an old theme.
Renuvion is a different kind of energy from anything else that’s been available before, and it’s the first major advancement in decades of skin treatments for the face and neck. Because of the way it works, with a single, quick treatment, which can usually be done under local anesthesia, Renuvion is able to give a result that’s not only dramatic but also natural-looking and long-lasting.
Such an advance in technology is made possible by an advance in the science behind the device. Renuvion is the first and only treatment to use a fine-tuned combination of helium plasma and radiofrequency energy, which applies heat to tissue in a way that isn’t possible with other treatments. The benefits of this were first identified in surgical specialties outside of aesthetics, and in fact, Renuvion was originally approved for use in hospital-based surgical procedures under the name “J-Plasma.” Soon, though, cosmetic plastic surgeons found that the same attributes that made J-Plasma so useful in hospital procedures could be applied to cosmetic medicine. Plastic surgeons began using Renuvion to directly treat the tissues responsible for skin laxity, without damaging the skin itself. The result was compelling; near instantaneous contraction of soft tissue and results that are often visible immediately after the treatment. Many of my colleagues began referring to Renuvion as “the magic wand.”
FDA Clearance and Indications
The hospital-based uses of Renuvion still exist, but the device has found its home in aesthetics. In fact, in addition to the longstanding FDA approvals for Renuvion for use under the skin, the company recently received two additional FDA clearances specific to aesthetics. It has been approved for surface treatment of the face and also specifically for “improvement of loose skin on the neck and jawline.”
Dermatologic Facial Procedures
The first new clearance involves the use of Renuvion for the treatment of moderate to severe wrinkles and rhytides on facial skin for patients with Fitzpatrick skin types I, II or III. Branded by the company as “Facial Renewal,” during this application, Renuvion is used directly on the face, delivering energy at the ideal depth needed to achieve significant reduction of wrinkles. In addition to precisely-controlled contraction of facial skin, the Facial Renewal treatment triggers the collagen rebuilding process known as neocollagenesis, where the skin will continue to repair itself and improve in appearance over weeks and months – with patients reporting softer, smoother, firmer and remarkably rejuvenated results. Facial Renewal is quickly becoming an ideal alternative for someone who isn’t ready for something as invasive as a facelift but is concerned that laser and other available treatments won’t give them the results they’re looking for.
Correcting Turkey Neck
The second new FDA clearance involves the use of the device under the skin and gives Renuvion the distinction of being the only treatment to have ever earned FDA clearance for the “improvement of the appearance of loose skin” on the neck and chin.
Loss of jawline definition is inevitable and can add years to one’s appearance. The skin is supported from underneath by a web-like structure of collagen fibers, and age, fluctuation in weight and sun exposure all contribute to the breakdown of the youthful look. Surface treatments don’t address these structures under the skin, and invasive surgery often carries moderate to significant discomfort and extended downtime.
Renuvion is used through tiny incisions to directly treat the collagen fibers that are the underlying cause of that laxity. It’s a minimally invasive, cost-effective single treatment with minimal downtime. Start-to-finish, the whole procedure usually takes about an hour and the results reveal a smoother and more contoured neck and jawline.
An Industry Game-Changer
Recognizing the impact this treatment has made in aesthetics, RealSelf.com surgeons recently named Renuvion as one of the five Most Pivotal Moments in Plastic Surgery from the Past 15 Years. I certainly agree, and here is why.
In my own practice, I’ve seen a steady and strong increase in demand for less invasive, single-treatment procedures that offer natural results with minimal pain and downtime. This has probably been the most distinct trend I’ve observed since entering practice, and it’s changed the dynamic of almost every body contouring consult I see. Renuvion helps me address this new dynamic and demand better than anything else in its class and has become the most important tool I have for ensuring consistently exceptional outcomes with high patient satisfaction.
All the result with none of the downtime? We might not ever make it all the way there, but with Renuvion I’m able to get my patients closer than ever.
Joubin S. Gabbay M.D., F.A.C.S. is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in the art of aesthetic plastic surgery. Dr. Gabbay is the medical director of Gabbay Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Gabbay’s vibrant personality and caring demeanor make him an ideal plastic surgeon for people of all ages and walks of life. With an extensive education in medicine, art, and architecture, Dr. Gabbay’s passion and dedication to artistic perfection are evident through his unparalleled surgical skill acknowledged by thousands of satisfied patients. Dr. Gabbay feels that taking care of patients is a privilege of trust and responsibility and that has been his driving force in shaping Gabbay Plastic Surgery’s medical philosophy. Because of his unique commitment, Dr. Gabbay’s patients praise him for his professional integrity and honest recommendations that produce exceptional results.
