Is Vaser Lipo better than Smart Lipo?

Vaser is a type of ultrasound assisted liposuction while Smartlipo is laser assisted liposuction. Both systems are ways of getting rid of unwanted fat deposits. They work very different. With Vaser, soundwaves are used to break up fat. With Smartlipo, laser light is used to destroy the fat. Just like both a helicopter or a plane can be used to travel to different places, either of these technologies can get you to the same endpoint. Ultrasound is usually utilized for removal of larger areas while Smartlipo is typically utilized for smaller areas. Thus, I would not say that one of these technologies is "better" than the other as they are both used for body sculpting and each has advantages and disadvantages. I would find a surgeon who offers both as there are many plastic surgeons who will tell you that one is far superior to another just because it is all they offer. Most true plastic surgeons are going to understand the fundamentals of liposuction and be able to explain to patients which subtype of liposuction will work best for them. These days there are so many non-core "cosmetic" surgeons offering Smartlipo or Vaser after literally taking weekend courses and buying a machine that the patient needs to be careful to find a physician who has performed thousands of procedures and can offer all types. I hope that this information helps.

Both Vaser Liposelection and Smart Lipo are considered as non-traditional liposuction. Specifically, they are considered as Tumescent Liposuction, which is using a localized numbing solution mixture of Lidocaine (local anasthetic solution), Epinephrine (vaso-constrictor), and Bicarb, a buffering solution. The benefits of using this mixture is that no general anesthesia is required, it minimizes bleeding, prolonged numbing at times up to 12 hours, and minimizes the chance of infection.

Tumescent liposuction is done first with infiltrating the numbing solutions to the treated area, then the second stage is debulking where we break down and melt the fat cells, and the last stage is liposuction and sculpturing.

As we can see, in the second stage if we use laser to melt the fat then it is called Smart Lipo and if we use ultrasound then it is called VASER Liposelection.

I would use Smart Lipo if we are working on a small area, such as the chin and I would use VASER Liposelection if we are working with a large area, such as the abdomen. We can use Smart Lipo to assist with skin tightening after we have done debulking with VASER liposelection, however, in most cases it is not required.

Properly performed traditional liposuction in the hands of a skilled surgeon remains the gold standard.  Many other technologies have been developed and have not been scientifically proven to be better.  The advertising mantras about enhancing skin shrinkage etc. are just part of the hype used to "sell" these new techniques. 

Clever names like "Smartlipo" don't mean they are better.  Remember, if your skin lacks good elasticity and if you are too overweight, you will be disappointed with your result no matter what technique is employed.

Vaser lipo and Smartlipo are two different twists on traditional liposuction.  Vaser uses ultrasound to emulsify fat, while Smartlipo uses a tiny laser cannula (hollow tube) to break up fat and (supposedly) tighten overlying skin.  I am not aware of any study showing that either of these methods is MORE effective at fat reduction than traditional liposuction. 

No form of liposuction does significant skin tightening, so if your problem is loose skin, liposuction in any form is probably not your best answer.  Even the "laser lipo" hasn't  been shown to tighten skin significantly in any study of which I'm aware (and I've looked).

Oh, if you have a large amount of fat to remove, you still have to do traditional liposuction to remove the fat that has been emulsified by Vaser or by laser. 

There are a great number of marketing tactics out there--talk to your plastic surgeon about the ones you've read about or heard about; your surgeon should be willing to discuss different methods and explain why she uses the ones she does.  She should be able to help you make an educated and informed decision about what will work best for you.

VASER liposuction uses ultrasound to emulsify the fat. Smart Lipo uses a laser through a fiberoptic cable to melt the fat.

These are clearly very different technologies and therefore have very different uses.

I don't think the question is which technology is better, but rather which is better for you?

• What areas would you like to treat?
• How much volume would you like to have removed?
• What kind of tissue do you have and how is the quality of the overlying skin?

These are the important questions that your plastic surgeon must go over with you so that the RIGHT procedure can be done to meet your needs.

Remember that there is no "best" technology - just the one that's best for you.

Best-
Dr Pazmino

There are a number of invasive and non-invasive techniques and techologies for treating unwanted fat.

It is initally important that the surgeon and the patient first agree on the aesthetic goal, and then discuss the benefits, realiastic outcomes, and complications of each technique. While some surgeons accomplish wonderful and consistent results with one technique, another surgeon may reach the same endpoint with a different approach.

It is in the patient's best interest to suggest, and not demand, a particular technique. It is important that your physician feel comfortable and confident in the technique used.

Specifically, the differences between the two techniques are as follows:

• Smart-Lipo: Laser technology that utilizes a 1064 ndYag laser with associated laser fiber and cannula to emulsify (swell and cause bursting of) fat cells. The theoretical advantages of the FDA approved technology are reduced downtime, pain, its use under a local anesthetic (and not a general anesthetic), and is less traumatic to the patient's tissues. However, an evacuation system needs to be in place to allow removal of the emulsified fat. The downside is that it is a relatively new treatment option and the learning curve for "predicting" fat removal has yet to be determined by most surgeons. Others propose that such emulsification makes subseuquent traditional liposuction or VASER liposuction at the same setting an easier technique for fat aspiration.

• Vaser Technique: Liposuction technique that uses ultrasound waves to emulsify the fat as well. It is associated with heating and thus can produce skin contraction and tightening. Its use is proceeded with a tumescent (local anesthetic) solution to the treated areas to reduce brusing, swelling, and discomfort. The fat is then subsequently aspirated out. It is very similar to the "true and tried" various forms of liposuction.

When consulting your physician consider the following points:

• Which technique does your physician perform on a regular basis?
• Can he demonstrate consistently good post-operative results with either techinque?
• And importantly, what are qualifications of the surgeon, the facilities, and the anesthesiologist?

Vaser Lipo, otherwise known as Liposelection, uses low frequency ultrasound waves to emulsify fat and tighten skin. The procedure may be performed in the office under a local anesthetic and involves three steps:

1. Tumescent anesthesia is applied witth a gentle pump that slowly infiltrates Lidocaine with Epinephrine and saline to freeze the area involved.
2. A small ultrasound probe is then inserted into the area to emulsify the fat.
3. All of the fat is aspirated and permanently removed from the body.

Smart Lipo is a laser system that uses a needle the size of an IV. catheter with a fiberoptic wire that transmits a 1064 wavelength ND-Yag signal to melt fat and tighten skin. In some regions, such as Europe, the fat is not even removed from the body. This system alone can not remove the fat, therefore it must be combined with some sort of liposuction system.

The best combination is to perform vaser lipo and smart lipo together. The two systems are complementary together, providing even more fat melting and exceptional skin tightening.

One system is not better than the other but the two partnered together offer amazing results. When searching for the best liposuction results find a board certified plastic surgeon who performs both smart lipo and liposelection by vaser.

Vaser uses sound waves to break up the fat.  Smartlipo uses a tiny laser to vaporize fat and tighten skin.  They have different uses so it is not that one is "better" than another.  One may be better for YOU than the other but you will have to ask a doctor that does both which would work better on your body.