Weight loss can succeed while the abdomen, arms or thighs still look loose, because fat volume falls faster than stretched skin and its fibrous support contract. Where skin does not tighten enough, the body can look less firm than expected. Body tightening with Renuvion2 — radiofrequency with helium plasma to contract subcutaneous soft tissue — is one option, used alongside liposuction to manage shape and skin quality together.
Contents
Why does laxity remain after dieting?
When weight falls, subcutaneous fat volume decreases, but stretched skin and the fibrous tissue supporting it do not contract at the same rate. After large weight change or where elasticity has declined, abdominal folds, loose inner-arm skin and lax thighs can become visible.
This laxity is not simply leftover fat. Reducing fat and contracting skin to create a firm contour are different goals, so after weight loss it matters to distinguish whether remaining fat or skin laxity is the main concern.
In a meta-analysis of 25 studies on body contouring after major weight loss, overall complications were 31.5%, and a pre-operative BMI of 30 or above raised risk by 37%.[1]
How does Renuvion2 work?
Renuvion2 is a medical device that combines radiofrequency energy with helium plasma to deliver energy to subcutaneous soft tissue. Heat contracts soft tissue, including collagen and the fibrous supporting structures beneath the skin.
Tissue contraction can appear immediately after energy delivery, with collagen remodelling continuing through healing. Immediate contraction and longer-term tissue change both contribute to improved firmness.
How is the treatment performed?
Before treatment the extent of laxity, subcutaneous fat thickness, elasticity and target area are assessed. A device is then inserted through an approach suited to the area and plan, delivering energy to subcutaneous tissue to induce contraction.
It is generally minimally invasive through a small incision, described as around 2–3 mm, though the actual site and size vary with the area and surgical plan. Swelling and bruising can occur afterwards, and return to daily activity is adjusted according to recovery.
What changes when combined with liposuction?
Liposuction aims to remove excess fat and adjust volume and contour; Renuvion aims to contract subcutaneous soft tissue and improve areas that look loose. Combined, fat reduction and skin tightening can be planned together — particularly where skin might otherwise be left laxer after fat removal.
Where a great deal of skin remains, folds or is severely lax, skin-excising surgery may be more appropriate.
In a randomised study of patients having lipoabdominoplasty after losing more than 20 kg, the group also treated with Renuvion had higher abdominal satisfaction up to two years and resolved swelling sooner.[2]
Which areas are considered?
- Abdomen: where skin has loosened after weight loss or childbirth
- Inner arms: where skin laxity is prominent after fat loss
- Thighs: where elasticity and contour are managed together after liposuction
- Submental and neck: within the approved indications of the device and handpiece
Applicable areas depend on the device's approved indications, the handpiece used and individual tissue condition. Where much skin remains versus where elasticity loss dominates, the appropriate treatment may differ.
What should be checked before treatment?
Rather than confirming the name of the treatment, check the actual device and handpiece, the areas treated, the operator's experience and the recovery plan. Where liposuction is combined, the plan should include not only how much fat is removed but how the skin will settle afterwards.
Read alsoChoosing by degree of laxity is covered in “Renuvion vs abdominoplasty: choosing by degree of laxity” (Korean).
Renuvion2: common myths and facts
| You may think… | In practice |
|---|---|
| "Losing more weight will reduce loose skin." | Stretched skin does not shrink with further weight loss. |
| "Liposuction alone lifts the skin." | Removing fat alone can make skin look looser. |
| "Treat right after losing weight." | It is better planned once weight has stabilised. |
For post-weight-loss laxity I ask first about weight change over the past six months. If weight is still falling, laxity is better re-assessed once it has stabilised.
Loose skin after dieting is not only a fat problem: stretched skin and its fibrous support lose firmness, and removing more fat will not tighten them. Renuvion2 contracts subcutaneous tissue using radiofrequency and helium plasma, and is used alongside liposuction to manage shape and skin together — in a randomised study after major weight loss, the Renuvion group had higher abdominal satisfaction to two years. Separating whether fat reduction or skin contraction is needed is the starting point, and treatment is best planned once weight has stabilised.
🔬 The research behind this article
These are the international journal papers that support the content above. Select a title to open the abstract on PubMed.
- Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2021 — meta-analysis of 25 studies on body contouring after major weight lossMarouf A, Mortada H. Complications of Body Contouring Surgery in Postbariatric Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2021;45(6):2810-2820.Key: complications 31.5%Text [1] · PMID 34018015 · DOI
- Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2025 — randomised study of Renuvion with lipoabdominoplastyBarone M, Salzillo R, De Bernardis R, Brunetti B, Tenna S, Persichetti P. Efficacy of Renuvion Helium Plasma to Improve the Appearance of Loose Skin in Patients Undergoing Abdominoplasty After Massive Weight Loss: A Prospective Controlled Randomized Study. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025;49(8):2260-2268.Key: higher two-year BODY-Q satisfaction, faster swelling resolutionText [2] · PMID 39815024 · DOI
🎬 Watch: Dr. Park Seong-Soo on video
Korean-language videos from BongBong Plastic Surgery's official channel and Dr. Park's channel, “Seongsu-ro Doctor”. Titles are translated for reference; selecting one opens YouTube.
- Loose skin after weight loss: Renuvion and body lifting comparedSeongsu-ro Doctor · 2026.08.11
- Tightening loose skin after dieting: Renuvion2 with liposuctionSeongsu-ro Doctor · 2026.08.15
- Lifting from the inside: Renuvion2 without a large incisionSeongsu-ro Doctor · 2026.04.20
Frequently asked questions
Can Renuvion2 be done without dieting?
A. It is not a weight-loss treatment; it targets skin laxity and subcutaneous contraction. It is considered where firmness and contour rather than weight reduction are the concern.
Does skin feel firm immediately?
A. Tissue contraction can appear straight after treatment, with remodelling continuing through recovery. When the contour change becomes visible depends on swelling and healing.
Can it be done without liposuction?
A. It can be planned separately in some cases, but the appropriate method depends on the area, the device's approved indications and the degree of laxity.
📖 References
Select a [number] in the text to jump to the source, and ↩ to return. Only papers whose title, journal and year were verified on PubMed are included.
- Marouf A, Mortada H. Complications of Body Contouring Surgery in Postbariatric Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2021;45(6):2810-2820. — Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2021 — meta-analysis of 25 studies on body contouring after major weight loss. ↩
- Barone M, Salzillo R, De Bernardis R, Brunetti B, Tenna S, Persichetti P. Efficacy of Renuvion Helium Plasma to Improve the Appearance of Loose Skin in Patients Undergoing Abdominoplasty After Massive Weight Loss: A Prospective Controlled Randomized Study. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025;49(8):2260-2268. — Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2025 — randomised study of Renuvion with lipoabdominoplasty. ↩
BongBong Plastic Surgery · Dr. Park Seong-Soo, Medical Director
Contact us for a consultation