ENERGY-BASED SKIN CONTRACTION FOR SELECTED AREAS
Renuvion skin tightening at BodyLuxe in Chicago is an energy-based procedure used beneath the skin to encourage tissue contraction in carefully selected patients. It may be considered on its own or alongside liposuction when skin laxity is part of the contour concern. A consultation helps determine whether the issue is fat, loose skin, both, or something better treated another way.
Treatment at a glance
- Goal: improve selected areas of mild-to-moderate skin laxity.
- Role: a separate skin-tightening procedure that may accompany liposuction when appropriate.
- Planning: treatment areas, combination procedures, recovery, and price are individualized.
- Next step: Dr. Farrugia examines the area and explains whether Renuvion, liposuction, another approach, or no procedure makes sense.
What is Renuvion skin tightening?
Renuvion skin tightening, also called J-Plasma, is an energy-based procedure used beneath the skin to encourage contraction in selected areas of loose tissue. It has its own candidacy, recovery, risks, and price and can be planned alone or alongside another procedure.
Your consultation identifies the exact area, the role of skin laxity and fat, and whether Renuvion should be used alone or with liposuction.
The degree of tightening varies with the treatment area, skin quality, anatomy, and healing, so the plan is individualized.
What Renuvion is designed to change
It may support
Renuvion may improve selected areas of skin laxity when the examination shows that tissue contraction—not fat removal alone—is the right goal.
It does not remove fat
Liposuction removes localized fat. If fat removal and skin tightening are both planned, your written plan names both procedures and explains what each one is intended to do.
It does not promise
Results vary, and Renuvion cannot promise a fixed amount of tightening or replace skin-excision surgery when substantial loose skin is the main concern.
Renuvion alone or with liposuction
Renuvion may be considered on its own when skin laxity is the primary concern. When both localized fat and loose skin contribute to the contour, liposuction and Renuvion can be planned as separate components of one coordinated procedure.
- Renuvion alone: the plan centers on selected skin laxity rather than fat removal.
- With liposuction: liposuction addresses selected fat while Renuvion addresses the planned skin-tightening component.
- Individualized: Renuvion is included only when the examination and treatment goals support it.
- Clear planning: your written plan and quote name each component and what it is intended to accomplish.
If your concern is fat beneath the chin rather than loose skin, review our chin and neck liposuction page. Renuvion addresses skin tightening and is not automatically included with liposuction.
Choosing among Renuvion, liposuction, and Ellacor
Liposuction
Liposuction removes selected fat beneath the skin. Renuvion is a separate option when skin laxity is also part of the concern.
Renuvion
Renuvion delivers energy beneath the skin to encourage contraction in selected areas; it does not remove fat.
Ellacor
Ellacor removes tiny cores of skin and follows a different treatment and recovery plan. The two procedures address skin laxity in different ways.
After examining the area, Dr. Farrugia will explain which approach best matches your anatomy, goals, tolerance for recovery, and desired degree of change.
When Renuvion may be worth considering
Renuvion may be worth discussing when
- skin laxity or skin quality, rather than only localized fat, is part of the concern;
- you want to understand whether a skin-tightening procedure could be considered alone or with liposuction;
- you can discuss the exact treatment area, medical history, prior procedures, and recovery needs with Dr. Farrugia;
- you understand that suitability and expected change require an examination.
A different approach may make more sense when
- the primary concern is fat removal rather than skin tightening;
- the amount or pattern of loose skin requires a different treatment discussion;
- a medical factor, prior procedure, medication, or healing concern changes the risk assessment;
- the desired outcome depends on a guarantee or degree of change that cannot be promised.
How Renuvion fits into a contouring plan
Dr. Farrugia maps the specific skin area to be treated and decides whether Renuvion is appropriate alone or in combination with liposuction. The device is passed beneath the skin through small access sites to deliver energy to the planned tissue layer. If liposuction is also included, the written plan and quote identify each component separately.
- the exact area or areas proposed for treatment;
- the device and handpiece the clinician intends to use;
- whether liposuction or another procedure is a separate component;
- procedure-day and recovery instructions specific to the plan;
- the procedure-specific quote and what it includes;
- which alternatives and limitations were discussed.
The final plan is based on the examination and your goals, with every treatment component explained before you decide.
What recovery can feel like
Swelling, bruising, tenderness, tightness, firmness, and temporary altered sensation can occur. Compression and activity instructions depend on the treatment area and whether liposuction was also performed. Improvement develops as swelling settles and tissues heal, so the early appearance is not the final result.
You receive specific instructions for compression, activity, wound care, medication, and follow-up based on the treated area and any combined procedure.
Return to work and exercise depends on the area and extent of treatment. Early swelling is not the final result; follow-up helps track healing and the change over time.
What to understand before treatment
Renuvion is a medical-device procedure with benefits, limitations, and risks that should be understood before treatment. Dr. Farrugia explains the planned device use and the alternatives for your concern.
Renuvion has important risks, including pain, swelling, bruising, infection, burns or thermal injury, fluid collection, numbness or altered sensation, scarring, contour irregularity, gas-related complications, and the possibility that the degree of tightening is less than hoped. Additional procedures may be needed. Dr. Farrugia reviews the device-specific risks and alternatives for your treatment area before you decide.
Review the FDA Renuvion/J-Plasma safety communication, then discuss device-specific labeling, alternatives, benefits, risks, and warning signs directly with Dr. Farrugia. This overview is not exhaustive and does not replace informed consent.
Renuvion pricing
For chin and neck contouring, chin sculpting without Renuvion is $3,500 and adding Renuvion is $2,000. Other Renuvion treatment areas are priced after consultation.
For areas other than chin and neck, pricing depends on the treatment area and whether Renuvion is performed alone or with another procedure. Your written quote lists each component and what is included.
Review the current Pricing and Financing pages, then confirm the procedure-specific quote during consultation.
Renuvion FAQs
Is Renuvion the same as liposuction?
No. Liposuction removes accessible subcutaneous fat. Renuvion is used to address selected skin-laxity concerns and is planned as a separate procedure.
Can Renuvion be considered without liposuction?
Potentially. Whether it is used alone or with liposuction depends on whether fat, loose skin, or both are contributing to the contour.
Is Renuvion automatically included with liposuction?
No. It is included only when the examination shows that skin tightening should be a separate part of the plan, and your written quote identifies it.
Does Renuvion remove fat or loose skin?
Renuvion does not remove fat or surgically excise skin. Liposuction or a skin-excision procedure may be discussed when either concern is the main issue.
Is Renuvion the same as Ellacor?
No. Ellacor removes tiny cores of skin and follows a different treatment plan. Dr. Farrugia can explain which approach, if either, fits your concern.
Does Renuvion guarantee tighter skin?
No fixed degree of tightening can be promised. The change develops during healing and depends on the area, skin quality, and individual response.
How long is recovery?
Recovery depends on the area, treatment extent, healing, and whether liposuction is also performed. Your written instructions give the timeline for your plan.
How much does Renuvion cost?
For chin and neck contouring, Renuvion is a $2,000 add-on to $3,500 chin sculpting. Pricing for other treatment areas depends on the plan, and your written quote controls.
Find out whether your concern is fat, skin, or both
A useful consultation begins with the contour you want to improve. Dr. Farrugia will assess the role of fat and skin laxity, explain whether Renuvion belongs in the plan, and discuss realistic alternatives.