VASER High Def Lipo: Side Effects and Risks

Hi there-
Just as you would never assume that simply by climbing behind the wheel of Michael Schumacher's racing car you would immediately start winning Formula 1 races, it is not reasonable to believe that just because someone has the financial wherewithal to purchase a VASER (or Smartlipo, or any other device), that they will be able to deliver the outcome you want.
First be sure you are dealing with a reputable and Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Please read the following, as I think it will help you understand the pitfalls people often fall into with liposuction and the amazing number of unqualified people marketing themselves as "liposuction experts":
Tumescent liposuction, VASER Lipo, Smart Lipo, Cool lipo, Pro Lipo, Slim Lipo, Water Jet lipo...
What does this all mean? If I don't get Smart lipo does that mean I'm dumb? If my surgeon recommends Slim Lipo does that mean he/she isn't a "Pro"? It truly is a ridiculous situation we have come to with regard to liposuction and the number of people trying to cash in on America's desire to be rid of its collective fat.
In well motivated patients, body contour improvement can be a very healthy endeavor, but how is an otherwise intelligent and well-adjusted person to know the difference between a responsible provider of aesthetic services offering them safe options for help with their body contour and a poorly trained and inexperienced provider more interested in their wallet than in your outcome and safety?
It is first important to realize that all of these devices will require you to undergo a liposuction procedure. The only difference is the approach to the treatment of the fat prior to its removal.
Because they all involve liposuction, and this is in fact a surgical procedure, it is very important that you "do your homework" and find a surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery who has the years of training in liposuction necessary to give you the safe experience and superior outcome you deserve and desire. Behind the amazing number of machines now available to remove your fat, there has followed an army of their sales representatives and an equally impressive number of providers marketing themselves as "liposuction experts".
What has made them "liposuction experts"? In almost all cases, a few days or weekends training with the salesman for the device or with someone more experienced in the procedure. It is their promise that if you have the device in their possession brought to bear on your behalf, your fat will be gone, your skin will miraculously shrink away, you won't need any anesthesia because the device allows painless removal of the fat, and it can be done on your lunch hour. The only thing I am surprised by at this point is that they don't promise you'll get rich and be more sexually alluring after the procedure too.
Selling the particular device to patients is not unlike someone saying to you that because they will give you access to Tony Stewart's racing car that you will be able to win this weekend's race and make a million dollars. Tony Stewart wins races because he is a great racing car driver AND he has a great car...This is no different.
Getting the best outcome from a body contouring procedure depends most on finding a well-qualified and experienced surgeon, and much less on the device used.
Most of these people are so aggressive in their marketing of these questionable devices because they are, in fact, not trained plastic surgeons but rather are either not physicians at all, or they are doctors with core training which would not have prepared them to do liposuction. Many have read recently about a death in my home state of Florida after a healthy 40ish year old mother had liposuction performed be a rehabilitation medicine doctor. Amazingly, I know of eye doctors (!!) doing liposuction as well- and yes, they market themselves as "liposuction experts".
The particular device used can affect the overall experience, however.
Despite the claims of the manufacturer and the practitioners who plunked down the large sum the device costs, Smartlipo has never been proven to shrink skin better than tumescent liposuction. SmartLipo, SlimLipo, Prolipo, and Coolipo all use a laser to destroy the fat cells, allowing them to be removed by liposuction. My problem with these is that, first of all, as a scientist and doctor I am offended when false claims of benefit are made, and that because the lasers will burn whatever you point them at, I worry that your nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and skin may be injured by the laser.
Bottom line (and in my opinion) -- there is no benefit to these devices, they are expensive (meaning that the cost to you, the patient, will be higher as well), and the risks are higher.
Tumescent liposuction is the gold standard to which all other techniques must be compared. It has been proven to be safe and effective over many years (provided that it is performed by a well-trained surgeon). It involves the injection of a fluid into the fatty tissue layer that causes blood vessels to shrink and the fat to expand, making it easier to remove and lowering the risk of a complication.
VASER lipo involves an additional step, in which the fat (after injection of fluid but before suction is applied) is treated with ultrasound energy. Unlike the laser filaments used in SmartLipo and the other devices mentioned above, the VASER probe is blunt and the ultrasound energy it uses is much more specific for fat, so that the risk of injury to the blood vessels and nerves, as well as the muscles and skin are much lower. This is seen in the patient experience of reduced swelling and bruising.
Each time a new (revolutionary!) liposuction machine comes out, I think the most important questions to ask are not "Does it work?", but rather, "Does it work better than what is already available, is it less expensive (not more), and is it safer than what is already available?"
The VASER (in my opinion) passes this test, while the laser based devices do not.
Having said all of that, I would emphasize that it is the education, training, experience, and skill of the surgeon at the end of the liposuction device that will make the greatest difference in your outcome and safety. There is not substitute for the years of training Board Certified Plastic Surgeons receive in liposuction, directly supervised by other Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. A well trained and Board Certified Plastic Surgeon would be more than capable of achieving a better outcome through tumescent liposuction than any eye doctor with a Water Jet. As in the analogy of Tony Stewart above- a great professional with a great tool (like the VASER) would only make those results and their safety even greater.
Please know that I have no financial relationship with any of these companies and have personally tried each of the discussed technologies myself on patients.

Thank you for your question regarding VASER liposuction's side effects and risks. As with any surgical procedure, Vaser High-Definition liposuction (VASER HD Lipo) carries some potential side effects and risks. These may include:




Swelling: Swelling is a common side effect after VASER HD Lipo and can last for several weeks.


Bruising: Bruising is another common side effect that typically resolves within a few weeks.


Pain or discomfort: Mild to moderate pain or discomfort is normal after the procedure and can be managed with prescribed medications.


Infection: There is a risk of infection with any surgical procedure, including VASER HD Lipo. This risk can be minimized by following all post-operative care instructions provided by your surgeon.


Numbness or tingling: Some patients may experience temporary numbness or tingling in the treated area, which typically resolves on its own within a few weeks.


Skin irregularities or contour deformities: While rare, there is a small risk of skin irregularities or contour deformities following VASER HD Lipo.


Anesthesia risks: As with any surgery involving anesthesia, there is a small risk of complications such as allergic reactions, breathing difficulties, and heart problems.


It is important to discuss these potential risks and side effects with your surgeon before undergoing VASER HD Lipo to ensure that you understand the procedure fully and are able to make an informed decision about whether it is right for you.

Hello,
From what you describe, you sound like an excellent candidate for VASER hi def. Like any medical procedure, there are potential side effects. The risks are reduced by impeccable surgical technique and appropriate followup care. In terms of results, it's essential that you see a body physique expert, trained and experienced in body sculpting. With body contouring, what matters most is the artistic ability of the surgeon. I recommend you review the before/after results of potential surgeons. Another important sign of a world class surgeon is that they answer all your questions and make you confident they understand you aesthetic goals (as opposed to their ideas of the ideal end result.)
Congratulations on achieving such a high level of fitness. With the support of a body physique expert, I am confident you will achieve the results you seek.
Best wishes,
Dr. Moein

Vaser Hi Def liposuction is a specific liposuction technique applied to the torso ( chest, abdomen and back), to not only remove subcutaneous fat  but also sculpt around your existing musculature in order to achieve a lean, muscular, sculpted look. No surgery is without risks and side effects and these should be explained to you before your surgery. The results do vary and depend on a number of factors including; the skill/expertise of your surgeon, your frame and skin consistency ( elasticity), how well you recover from the surgery, how your body responds to the surgery, how much you adhere to the post operative guidelines. It is important to realise that no cosmetic surgery can offer perfection and Hi Def is not a substitute for healthy diet and exercise. If you don't look after yourself after your surgery this will effect the results. A bit like buying a top of the range sports car and then never cleaning or servicing it!

Good Afternoon,every surgery has their own risks and high effects however because vaser lipo breaks down the fat tissue selectively with ultrasonographic waves, veins, nerves and connective tissue are not damaged. Broken down fat is sucked with a slight pressure with the help of special cannulas. Therefore, it is a highly safe method. After the liposuction applied with this method, chance of side effects such as bleeding, hematoma, loss of sense and edema is less.  Because vaser lipo ensures a more effective transition among the fat layers, the result is a homogenous skin with no irregularities. 

With any of these procedures there are risks involved.  Ultimately it dependent on the surgeon performing the procedure.  If you are already in good shape it does just depend on your skin elasticity.
Hopefully they have shown you more than just one pictures.  Ideally you want to see a few so you can see how different patients respond.  Not everyone has the same results and you need to appreciate that.  By seeing different results you get an appreciation of how the results vary.  
Remember that you are also not going to achieve perfection.  The body is a wonderful thing and has its own mind during the process of recovery. There will be minor blemishes and imperfections that you will need to accept.

Your doctor will first verify if you are an ideal candidate for #vaser #lipo during your consultation. All surgical procedures carry some degree of #risk and the need for revision surgery is always a possibility. Some side effects and complications associated with #liposuction include: Hematoma (#bleeding), blood clots, fat clots, infection,  deep vein #thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications, excessive #fluid loss, fluid accumulation (#edema), leg #swelling, sensitivity to #sensation, #pain, severe #scarring and poor incision healing damage to nerves, blood vessels, muscles, lungs, and abdominal organs is possible. Other side effects which may be experienced while healing which can cause concern are #swelling, #pain, #asymmetry #uneven skin pigmentation, discoloration of the #skin, uneven contours and rippling of the skin in the area(s) treated.Hence, it is imperative you select a plastic surgeon who is #board-certified and has a great deal of experience with #vaser #liposuction. Aside from checking board-certification, it is suggested that you look at before and after photos of the surgeons actual patients, and read patient reviews. Gathering all of this information will help you make a well-informed decision. Always discuss your issues and concerns with the Plastic Surgeon during and following your consultation. Information that you read online may not apply to your personal situation.

Vaser is the best for hi definition cases and for fat harvesting that can be used to define and sculpt muscles such as the buttock, chest, arms. I suggest seeing an expert who does 4D hi def liposuction if you are looking for body etching.  The results are based on the post operative care and risks are same as other types of liposuction but higher with VASER hi def -- irregularities, swelling, unrealistic results etc.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Like any procedure, there are risks involved. These risks include any infection, bleeding, contour irregularities, scarring, fibrosis, fat embolism, DVT, and risks of anesthesia.  Based on a study conducted by Dr. Jewel involving over 70,000 patients, the risks associated with the VASER liposuction is very low.  Moreover, a randomized clinical trial that was conducted a few years ago comparing the VASER liposuction and traditional liposuction, there's less bleeding and more skin retraction with the VASER liposuction group. It is critical that you should go to a plastic surgeon who is trained to perform this procedure.  As of December 2015, there's approximately 20 plastic surgeons who are trained by Dr. Alfredo Hoyos to perform the 4D VASER Hi-definition liposculpture.  I recommend doing your research before proceeding with this procedure.

Excellent question as no surgical procedure is without potential negative side effects. High definition sculpting or etching with Vaser Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction is an excellent technique for the properly selected patient, but it is not for everyone. I typically take a more conservative approach to high def sculpting as I wish to create a more athletic, muscular appearance yet leave a natural, BELIEVABLE result. All too often attempts to sculpt six pack can yield a fake, unnatural result. Therefore I prefer to accentuate the rectus abdominis (sit-up) muscles along the vertical axis and not artificially create the transverse depressions as this can sometimes lead to unusual, unequal results. Aside from asymmetric results, patients can experience other untoward side effects including burns of the skin and under or over liposuctioning. Prolonged swelling and a peau d'organge appearance to the etched skin may be an expected side effect that resolves in 6-8 weeks. the final result form this advanced technique is not for 9-12 months. Often patients can further accentuate the outcome by and excercise regimen that stresses building the musculature of the treated areas.

I perform Vaser Liposelection here in Mentor, Ohio on a regular basis and am considered one of the best at this procedure, but I have never pulled out a photo and told someone that they're going to look just like that photo. I am surprised that a board certified plastic surgeon would do this, frankly. If they are not board certified in plastic surgery and/or do not have extensive experience with high def Vaser lipo, you need to reconsider your physician of choice. It's very dangerous to promise patients that they will look like a specific photograph.

You need to have your physician, in consultation, evaluate your body, BMI, height and weight, and commitment to maintaining your physical stature, in order to achieve great, cut results. A person who takes exquisite care of himself can enjoy the high definition technique. But if you fall off the wagon, the consequences of that will become manifest, and won't be photographically represented as before. Your body will age just like anyone's, so maintaining an exercise regimen and dietary restrictions for muscle cutting will still have to be part of your program.

You ask if there's a chance you could end up looking "odd" like a bad drawing. Of course there is. You must find a skilled and experienced board certified plastic surgeon to do this procedure and make sure you examine as many sets of before/after photos as you can. While many who perform Vaser lipo are board certified in plastic surgery, there are equal numbers of medical doctors without board certification in plastic surgery who learn to do lipo over a weekend. Who do you think will do a better job?

Vaser High Def sculpting is intricate, detailed work that requires an excellent eye for balance and experience with Vaser lipo.

To your health & beauty,

Paul Vanek, MD, Cleveland area board certified plastic surgeon