Lovingly referred to as the flamethrower by some doctors, J-Plasma is a powerful tool that plastic surgeons can use to tighten the skin. Simple yet fascinating, J-plasma procedures start with the placement of a small device just under the skin. A specific radio frequency (RF) is then applied to the device to create a precise beam of heat while helium gas simultaneously cools the area to prevent burns. Together, the gas and RF create a stream of energy known as J-Plasma.
It’s a known fact that heat causes some substances and materials to shrink, which is why many of us dry our favorite blue jeans on low heat rather than high. It turns out that your skin is one of the things that can shrink when exposed to heat. It’s normally impossible, however, to apply enough heat to your skin to tighten it without causing burns and damage.
J-Plasma solves this problem by combining the heat of RF with helium gas to create a cooling effect. This allows the RF to make the skin contract while the helium gas allows the heat to quickly dissipate before it reaches the surface of the skin and causes damage. The heat contracts collagen instantly, pulling the skin tighter for instant and, in many cases, dramatic results.
J-Plasma is incredibly versatile and can be performed almost anywhere. You may choose to have your surgeon sculpt your:
J-Plasma results are real and long lasting in the majority of cases. Many patients enjoy the results of a J-Plasma procedure for about 7 years and, given the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, are quite happy with the length of their results. The procedure is irreversible, but the aging process will naturally continue and may cause your skin to sag again in the future. Note that if you lose a significant amount of weight, your skin may start to sag and loosen again regardless of how recently you’ve undergone J-Plasma treatment.
J-Plasma is no better or worse than liposuction, as the two procedures achieve very different goals. Comparing them is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. Lipo removes fat from the body and does the job well. The skin often tightens after lipo, but only if it is still elastic enough to do so. J-Plasma tightens the skin but does not remove or disturb fat.
For these reasons, it is common for surgeons to perform lipo and J-Plasma procedures together. This allows for maximum body sculpting, removing unwanted fat and then tightening the skin over the area.