September 01, 2026 | Liposuction, Plastic Surgery News
Somebody finally did the arithmetic on this thing.
A systematic review came out this year that pooled 34 studies and 3,508 patients treated with Renuvion J-Plasma. I have been using it since 2019. I do ten to twenty of these a week now, and Apyx, the company that makes it, tells me that puts me in the top ten worldwide for volume.
I mention the volume for one reason. It is why I can also tell you where the device fails. A surgeon who has done a dozen cases has only met the good version of it.
The study reported 92% patient satisfaction across those 3,508 patients, with a confidence interval of 83 to 97. Investigators rated 92% improved, patients rated 94%, and an independent photographic review came in at 86%. Complications ran 5% for Renuvion by itself and 8% when it was done with liposuction. Patients followed longer were happier.
Q: As one of the highest-volume Renuvion surgeons in the world, what is your reaction to those numbers?
“I have had a similar experience with my patients. There is a very high satisfaction rate for the patient, and I would like to say that for myself as well, the surgeon. I see considerable skin tightening and very low complication rates. I think that in this study, actually, the complication rates are higher than in my hands. I can say that I rarely see a complication from Renuvion, or Renuvion with liposuction.”
Weigh that lightly. It is my own count, never audited, against 3,508 pooled patients.
Q: You have done this since 2019 at ten to twenty cases a week. How does that volume shape your results?
“With such high volume, we have become very efficient at performing Renuvion J-Plasma, with or without liposuction. We have been following the latest protocols in terms of energy delivery per surface area, and this has proven to be dramatically more effective. And we have learned that more power doesn’t necessarily mean more results. It is more about choosing the exact power needed in the area to create the results.”
Q: How do you decide between Renuvion alone and Renuvion with liposuction?
“Most of the time, I’m using Renuvion with liposuction, as we’re using it to tighten after liposuction for an improved result. There are instances where we use Renuvion alone, and this is where we just want to get some skin tightening without any removal of subcutaneous fat. So there’s really no volume change, just tightening.”
That is why the 5% and the 8% are not two versions of one operation. Add liposuction and you have added a second procedure with its own risks.
Q: Who is not a good candidate?
“Patients with severe skin laxity are really not good candidates for J-Plasma. They may see some improvement, but it’s not going to be as effective as a skin excision procedure. The other group is some patients with implantable devices, such as pacemakers, who may not be able to undergo radiofrequency treatments unless they are monitored in the hospital by their device manufacturer.”
Skin stretched past a certain point has lost what this device works on. That patient needs a tummy tuck or an arm lift, and selling her the smaller procedure would be doing her harm.
Q: The authors disclosed consulting ties to Apyx, which makes Renuvion. Some people see that as a red flag.
“When the authors are consultants or involved with the company, the actual study is scrutinized further to make sure there is no bias or data manipulation. I’m very happy that the authors gave all of their disclosures and conflicts of interest. This creates transparency. I’ve actually worked with some of them and trained in the early stages with them. For these studies to be published, they are peer reviewed by other plastic surgeons who scrutinize the paper and look for any faults or reasons to reject it. On top of this, the study itself has to be IRB approved, meaning approved by an Institutional Review Board, which in itself scrutinizes any conflict of interest and human safety.”
One limit on that. Disclosing a conflict does not make the findings right, it only tells you where to look hard. The 86% independent photographic number is what actually reassured me, not the disclosure page.
The Short Version
Ninety-two percent satisfied across 3,508 patients. Complications ran 5% alone and 8% with liposuction, and lower than both in my hands, for whatever one surgeon’s count is worth to you. The variable that matters is energy per surface area, not power. I turn down severe laxity, and I take implanted cardiac devices case by case with the manufacturer.
I am a double board-certified plastic surgeon, a Mayo Clinic fellowship alum, and I teach plastic surgery as a Clinical Associate Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
Ready to Talk?
If you have loose skin and you want a straight answer about whether Renuvion can fix it or whether you need excision, let’s talk. Call the office at (915) 590-7900, text us at 1-866-814-0038, or book a consultation at agulloplasticsurgery.com.
Source: Shridharani SM, Sterodimas A, Harsch MR, Larson KA. “Helium Plasma Radiofrequency for Aesthetic Subdermal Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 2026. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojag092. The authors disclose consulting and advisory relationships with Apyx Medical, manufacturer of Renuvion.
Q&A source: Q&A Transcriptions/Renuvion-Systematic-Review-QA.md (Frank, 2026-08-24). All quoted passages are verbatim.
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