Awake Vaser Lipo ?

Question

In the UK they do Vaser Lipo awake however it's about £6k so looking for a surgeon in Turkey. When speaking to medical clinics in Turkey they're saying it's impossible to do this surgery under local - why is this? Is there any surgeon in Turkey who does this procedure without general anaesthetic ? When I spoke to a clinic in the UK they were similarly confused when I told them the Turkish clinics put you to sleep as it's a keyhole surgery. Thanks in advance.

Michelle Jones Singer, MD · Answer

With the exception of the fact that you are awake during the treatment, awake liposuction functions similarly to standard liposuction.  To keep you comfortable throughout this minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon will administer local anesthesia (numbing medicine) and sedatives.

The surgeon will delicately insert a cannula through tiny incisions when you're ready, and then use a tumescent solution. Which is a local anesthetic that lessens discomfort and bleeding.  After the numbing takes effect, the fat will be remove with the liposuction. Because liposuction is a body sculpting treatment, your surgeon will deliberately remove fat from your body to get the ideal form.

Ozge Ergun, MD · Answer

Hello thanks for your question. Vaser liposuction is typically performed under general anesthesia. This approach allows for a more comfortable experience for the patient, as it ensures they are completely unconscious during the procedure. However for smaller treatment areas might be possible to perform with local anesthesia. It depends on many factors. I recommend you to contact a Board Certified Surgeon for consultation. I wish you all the best.

Chad Deal, MD · Answer

The procedure can be performed both awake and asleep. However, when typically using the Vaser, the surgeons are going after more aggressive results and in the majority of patients, this would be very uncomfortable. Further it’s difficult to work in between the muscles without the patient moving and causing uneven results. While this can be done awake I would highly recommend that would be done under general anesthesia.

Jonghyun Hong, MD · Answer

Hello dear "lopei" , It is Dr. Hong from Fresh Plastic Surgery Clinic South Korea, Seoul. I am not sure about Turkey, but here in Korea, almost all plastic surgeries (except of: double jaw, bone surgery, too long surgery) are processed under local + sedative anesthesia. Sedative anesthesia is condition when your sleep is controlled by medications, but all your system work by itself, so no tube required. 
Best Regards,

Jerimiah Mason, MD · Answer

Vaser lipo can definitely be done awake with just local anesthetic. I usually suggest patients go under general anesthesia, but it's not a requirement.

Babak Moeinolmolki, MD, FACS · Answer

VASER liposuction can be done under local or general depending on the extent of work being desired. The larger the area the more discomfort you will have for the global procedure. For example, 360 VASER lipo should likely be done under general.

Dennis Wolf, BScHons, MBBCh, MRCSEd · Answer

In the UK most cases would be done under IV sedation (twilight sedation) or general anaesthetic. Very occasionally under local anaesthetic (completely awake) if they are small cases.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear Lopei,

While Vaser Liposuction can technically be performed under local anesthesia, I personally do not recommend it. This procedure involves emulsifying fat prior to removal, and it can be very painful even with local anesthetic. The comfort and safety of my patients are my top priorities, hence I always prefer general anesthesia for such procedures. The decision between local and general anesthesia often balances patient comfort, safety, and the extent of the procedure. I recommend speaking with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can provide a comprehensive evaluation and discuss the best options for you based on your specific needs and comfort levels.

If it were me, I would choose to be completely asleep during this procedure.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

Giuseppe Fiore, MD · Answer

Hi thanks for your question. Unfortunately, without photo and your medical history/medications I am not able to provide a specific answer to your concerns and determine if you are a suitable candidate for local or general anaesthesia.
The decision to perform a surgical procedure under local anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia depends on various factors, including the complexity of the procedure, patient comfort, and the surgeon's preference and expertise. 
The decision to use local anaesthesia, twilight sedation, or general anaesthesia during a Vaser liposuction procedure is a personal one, and this decision should be made between the patient and the surgeon based on several factors, such as the extent of the procedure (number of areas treated), the patient's medical history and medications, and their level of anxiety or discomfort. In my clinical practice, I use local anaesthesia for Vaser liposuction in limited areas such as the neck, arms, and flanks. However, I commonly use sedation or general anaesthesia when I perform Vaser liposuction in several areas of the body, especially the upper/lower abdomen, flanks, and back (known as the 360-degree approach). In my opinion and experience, when a surgeon uses local anaesthesia, they can remove fat but cannot perform body contouring very well due to the level of discomfort for the patient during the procedure. Vaser liposuction with twilight sedation or general anaesthesia, allows the surgeon to perform fat removal and also body contouring and middle to high definition Vaser, as the patient is completely asleep, and the consultant anaesthetist looks after the patient's vital signs and respiratory support. It is important to discuss the anaesthesia options with the surgeon and anaesthetist and ask any questions you may have to ensure you understand the risks and benefits of the different options.
It is also important to have aftercare and follow-up visits with the surgeon after 1 week, 6-8 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Additionally, it is advised to avoid flying for at least 1 to 4 weeks after the surgery (depending on the duration of the flight) to reduce the risk of thromboembolism. For these reasons, I strongly recommend having the surgery relatively close to where you live to avoid flight travel immediately after the surgery and for convenient follow-up visits with the surgeon/clinic.
I hope this helps. 
Best wishes, Dr Giuseppe Fiore

Thomas Wright, MD · Answer

Lopei,   Thank you for your question.  Vaser Lipo , PAL liposuction , Laser Liposuction and all other kinds of liposuction can be very successfully with Local Tumescent Anesthesia.  General Anesthesia add risks to any surgery, some them serious, and should be avoided if it is not necessary.  For more complicated Surgeries than Liposuction general anesthesia is needed but I would not recommend using general anesthesia for any simple liposuction. Wishing you the best of health

Awake Vaser Lipo ?

Answers (15)