Vaser and Renuvion Combination for After Weight Loss Body Contouring, NC*

Patients with major or massive weight loss often require excisional procedures for body contouring of the abdomen ,chest , back and legs. Liposuction can be helpful however because of the loose skin that has developed it is rarely effective by itself. When patients with poor skin tone undergo liposuction they usually just develop more loose skin and irregularities. The Vaser is an ultrasonic energy-based device that is utilized to emulsify fat in preparation for liposuction and does have some ability to tighten the skin. More recently, the FDA has cleared the Renuvion device for subdermal coagulation which helps to tighten collagen fibers that have been exposed by liposuction. The effect is not immediate but takes several months to see changes. Liposuction is done first followed by passes of the Renuvion device which uses helium and radiofrequency energy to safely shrink the fibrous septal network of collagen between the skin and the underlying muscle. This causes the skin to contract or "shrink". This 29-year-old patient had prior body contouring elsewhere after an over 100-pound weight loss. Despite his previous body lift, he wanted improvements in his chest and abdomen and back and he underwent Vaser liposuction with Renuvion. He actually had 2 separate procedures and now shows nice contour without the need for more skin removal. This treatment is combined at the same time as the liposuction and is effective at improving skin tone after liposuction.