Advanced Body Contouring (Liposuction) with VASER, MicroAire, and Renuvion

Advanced Body Contouring (Liposuction) with VASER, MicroAire, and Renuvion

How These Three Technologies Work Together

Rather than relying on a single liposuction method, this approach uses each technology for a specific purpose:

1. VASER loosens and separates fat with precision
2. MicroAire removes fat smoothly and efficiently
3. Renuvion tightens skin to enhance the final contour

Each step builds on the last, allowing for a more controlled, strategic procedure and results that look refined rather than over-treated.

Nearly every patient will benefit from all three technologies — during your consultation, Dr. Petrungaro will determine which tools are appropriate based on your anatomy and goals.

Who Is a Good Candidate for This Advanced Approach?

You may be a good candidate for advanced liposuction-based body contouring if you:

• Have stubborn fat resistant to diet and exercise
• Have mild to moderate skin laxity
• Want refined contouring rather than simple fat reduction
• Are seeking comprehensive improvement in a single procedure

A personal consultation is the best way to determine whether a multi-technology approach is right for you.

Common Treatment Areas

Target stubborn pockets of fat and loose skin with precision.

Because the “Trifecta” combines the fat-melting power of VASER with the skin-tightening capabilities of Renuvion, Dr. Petrungaro can treat areas that traditional liposuction alone might leave sagging or uneven.

• Abdomen (Upper & Lower): The most popular area for this combination. Dr. Petrungaro will create a flat, athletic tummy using Renuvion to ensure the skin snaps back tightly after fat removal.
• Flanks (Love Handles): This area requires deep contouring to create an hourglass figure or a V-taper. The technology allows Dr. Petrungaro to blend the waist into the hips seamlessly.
• Back & Bra Roll: Back fat is often fibrous and tough. VASER breaks down this dense tissue effectively, while Renuvion prevents the skin laxity often seen after treating the bra line.
• Thighs (Inner & Outer): Inner thighs are prone to thin, crepey skin. The Trifecta is essential here to remove the “rub” while tightening the delicate skin to prevent sagging.
• Arms (Upper Arms): Treats the “bat wing” appearance. By debulking the arm and shrinking the skin wrapper, we can achieve slender arms without the long scars of an arm lift (brachioplasty) in mild to moderate cases.
• Chin & Neck: A precise approach to define the jawline and reduce the “double chin,” tightening the neck skin for a more youthful profile.
• Male Chest (Gynecomastia): VASER is uniquely suited to break down the dense glandular tissue found in the male chest, flattening the area for a masculine contour.

What to Expect: Your Journey

From your first visit to your final reveal.

Step 1: The Consultation

Your journey begins with a comprehensive assessment by award-winning board-certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Jason Petrungaro. He will discuss your aesthetic goals, examine your skin elasticity, and determine if the VASER/Renuvion combination is the right tool for your anatomy. We will map out a customized surgical plan.

Step 2: Surgery Day

On the day of your procedure, you will be made comfortable with the appropriate anesthesia. The “Trifecta” is performed in three stages:

• Release: VASER ultrasound energy separates fat cells from fibrous tissue.
• Remove: Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL) gently removes the fat.
• Retract: Renuvion helium plasma is applied under the skin to instantly tighten and shrink the tissue.

Step 3: The First Week

Rest is your priority. You will experience drainage, soreness, and swelling. You will be wearing a compression garment 24/7 to support your new contours. Most patients describe the feeling as comparable to a very intense workout.

Step 4: 1–3 Months (The “Shrink Wrap” Phase)

While the fat is gone immediately, swelling can obscure results initially. Over these months, the swelling subsides, and the “magic” of Renuvion continues to work for 6-9 months, stimulating collagen production and tightening the skin further.

Step 5: Long-Term Maintenance

By month 6, your results are settled and stable. Fat cells removed are gone permanently. Maintaining a stable weight through a healthy lifestyle ensures your results last a lifetime. Renuvion results will last over 8 years.

Recovery & Downtime

Planning your time off and healing process.

Transparency about recovery is key to a smooth experience. The Trifecta (the majority of the time it is paired with a Tummy Tuck) requires dedication to aftercare.

• Compression Garments: You will wear a surgical compression garment for 4 to 6 weeks. This is non-negotiable; it helps reduce fluid buildup and molds your skin to its new, slimmer shape.
• Swelling & Bruising: Peaking around day 3 or 4, bruising usually resolves within two weeks. Minor residual swelling can persist for several months but is usually unnoticeable to others after the first few weeks.
• Return to Work:
  • Desk Jobs: Most patients return within 3 to 5 days.
  • Active Jobs: Plan for 7 to 10 days off, depending on the physical demands.
• Exercise Timeline:
  • Day 1: Gentle walking around the house is encouraged to promote circulation.
  • Week 2-3: Light cardio (walking on a treadmill/elliptical).
  • Week 4-6: Return to heavy lifting and high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
  • If a Tummy Tuck is performed with your surgery, heavy lifting and high-intensity workouts can resume at 12 weeks (3 months)

Candidate Selection: Is the Trifecta Right for You?

Determine if you are the ideal match for this high-definition contouring.

While the VASER, PAL, and Renuvion combination pushes the boundaries of what non-excisional surgery can do, selecting the right procedure for your specific anatomy is crucial for safety and satisfaction.

The Ideal Candidate

You are likely a perfect fit for this procedure if:

• You are at or near your ideal weight: You lead a healthy lifestyle, but struggle with “stubborn pockets” of fat that diet and exercise won’t budge.
• You have mild to moderate skin laxity: You have some looseness (perhaps from weight fluctuations or post-pregnancy), but not significant hanging skin.
• You want to avoid long scars: You prefer a minimally invasive approach and are willing to accept a significant improvement in contour rather than the absolute flatness that an excisional surgery might provide.
• You want definition: Unlike traditional liposuction, which simply debulks, you are looking for an athletic, sculpted look.

The “Trifecta” vs. A Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

One of the most common questions we hear is: “Can I get this instead of a tummy tuck?”

This technology is a game-changer because it allows some patients to avoid a tummy tuck who previously would have required one. However, there are distinct differences:

Important Note on Muscle Separation:

If you have significant Diastasis Recti (separation of the abdominal muscles, common after multiple pregnancies), liposuction alone cannot fix the protruding “pooch” caused by the muscle weakness. In such cases, a tummy tuck is required, or we may discuss a hybrid approach.

Who is NOT a Candidate?

1. Patients seeking massive weight loss (BMI > 35 is typically the cutoff).
2. Patients with a significant “overhang” of skin (panniculus) that covers the pubic area.
3. Patients with unrealistic expectations of perfection rather than improvement.

Ready to Reveal Your Best Self?

Choosing the right procedure is a personal journey, and while technology provides the tools, it is the artistry and expertise of Dr. Petrungaro that deliver the results. If you are tired of stubborn fat and skin that lacks its former snap, the VASER, PAL, and Renuvion trifecta could be the transformation you’ve been searching for.

Don’t spend another day wondering “what if.” During a private, one-on-one consultation, Dr. Petrungaro will perform a physical assessment, review your aesthetic goals, and determine if you are a candidate for this advanced body contouring approach.

Take the first step toward a more confident you.

Why Expertise Matters: The Art of the Trifecta

Combining VASER, PAL, and Renuvion is often referred to as “High-Definition Body Contouring.” While the technology is revolutionary, these are sophisticated tools that require a high level of surgical skill, anatomical knowledge, and artistic vision. Operating all three simultaneously is as much an art form as it is a medical procedure.

Here is why choosing a practice specifically experienced in this “Trifecta” is essential:

• Multilayered Precision: To achieve a natural look, Dr. Petrungaro understands how to transition between different fat layers. VASER allows him to target the superficial fat layers, while PAL efficiently clears the deeper layers. Without expert hands, the results can look “unnatural” or “lumpy.”
• Thermal Safety & Skin Tightening: Renuvion uses helium plasma to deliver incredible heat to the undersurface of the skin. Dr. Petrungaro knows exactly how much energy to apply to maximize contraction without compromising the skin’s blood supply.
• Customized Energy Delivery: Every body is different. A “cookie-cutter” approach doesn’t work when you are using three different energy-based devices. Dr. Petrungaro calibrates the intensity of the ultrasound (VASER) and the plasma (Renuvion) based on your specific skin thickness and fat density.
• Advanced Safety Protocols: Combining these technologies requires specialized training to manage fluid balance and ensure the shortest possible operative time, which directly leads to a safer experience and a smoother recovery for you.

Dr. Petrungaro’s Perspective: “Technology is the instrument, and I am the musician. My goal isn’t just to remove fat; it’s to shrink the ‘skin envelope,’ so it fits your new, sculpted frame perfectly.”

Why Choose Petrungaro Plastic Surgery?

Petrungaro Plastic Surgery is the only practice in the area offering VASER®, MicroAire®, and Renuvion® under one roof.

Patients choose our practice for:

• Advanced surgical techniques
• Thoughtful, individualized planning
• A focus on natural-looking results

This comprehensive approach allows us to tailor each procedure to the patient, not the other way around.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to your most common questions.

Take the Next Step

If you’re considering liposuction and want a more advanced, customized body contouring approach, we invite you to schedule a consultation.

Learn whether a three-technology body contouring approach is right for you.