Vaser Lipo Vs. Traditional Liposuction - What Are the Pros and Cons?

Question

I am having a tummy tuck and liposuction on my flanks and thighs, my board certified plastic surgeon performs vaser lipo but the medical assistant says I am scheduled for traditional liposuction. I have a preop today and would like to address this topic. Your help is appreciated. I am 4'11 and weigh 110 pounds,I am a very hippy girl with a small waist. I have "saddlebags" and love handles along with a stretched out stomache due to my pregnancies. Is there a reason why an experience surgeon would prefere to perform regular lipo over vaser?

Elizabeth Slass Lee, MD · Answer

There is alot of hype and marketing out there by the companies that make ultrasound or lasers to use for liposuction. The Vaser is one example of an ultrasound assisted device. Liposuction by itself is generally a strenuous operation for the surgeon. The human body is put together pretty firmly and quite a bit of force is needed to move a cannula in the space under the skin where the fat is. The Vaser uses ultrasonic energy to break up the fat so the surgeon can do a second pass and suction it out. 
There is no question that the suctioning is easier after the Vaser has been used, but there is a down side too. The procedure may take longer as the Vaser requires two treatment passes, first the emulsification pass and the second to go over all the same area with the suction. Also, the Vaser makes things hot which can cause burning of the skin and more irritation of the tissues. Early studies showed that there were more complications than with standard liposuction too. Now Vaser does help in very firm, fibrous tissues such as the back or the male breast, but is of questionable use, in my opinion, in soft places like the thighs. 
Vaser and now the new laser lipo machine makers claim that their machines can give skin tightening, but there are no scientifically controlled studies that prove this.  They also claim that they cause less bruising or blood loss, and this may or may not be the case. Good tumescent technique with standard liposuction probably does the same thing. Remember, no matter what the manufacturers claim, any procedure that involves putting intruments under the skin is a surgery, will have bleeding and risks of complications. I would have liposuction of the body done only by a board certified plastic surgeon and I would trust his or her choice of device.

Emmanuel De La Cruz, MD · Answer

Hello marijr,
  
I appreciate your questions! Unlike the traditional liposuction methods, VASER lipo only targets specific parts of the body preserving important nerves, blood vessels and muscles, making the recovery considerably quicker. Compared to standard suction liposuction, the inter-operative blood loss is 26% less in average, resulting in significantly less bruising post-operation. Moreover, VASER is scientifically proven to offer 53% more skin tightening than traditional surgeries. Due to laser-precision accuracy, VASER lipo is highly recommended for body sculpting. Altogether, these beneficial factors positively impact the procedure final outcome and recovery process. I would suggest contacting your plastic surgeon to discuss your specific concerns and cosmetic goals. He/she has intimate knowledge about the customized surgery plan to be followed and detailed familiarity about your potential complications. Best wishes! Dr. De La Cruz.

Robert J. Schwartz, MD · Answer

Vaser® is very precise and takes more time to perform.  More time in the OR is going to equal more cost to you.  More than likely, the conversation you had with your surgeon regarding your goals and your budget were key determining factors in the surgeon's choice to go with traditional lipo.  Nonetheless, review your concerns with your surgeon and make sure you are getting what you want.  Vaser® produces an overall better and more beautiful result with less downtime than traditional liposuction and less disruption to the surrounding tissues.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Vaser liposuction, also known as Vaser #lipo, LipoSelection or Liposuction, is an advanced body #contouring procedure that selectively removes unwanted body fat. An alternative to the harsh techniques of traditional liposuction, #Vaser lipo uses state-of-the-art ultrasound technology designed to gently #reshape your body.
There are three types of #Vaser Lipo. Each benefit patients differently depending on their needs. Vaser Lipo  is capable of removing fat from resilient areas providing a smoother and slimmer results. It is common for reducing love handles, extra skin along the bra line or flanks on many female patients. Additionally, it is often applied to the reduction of male breast surgeries, called gynecomastia surgery. Meanwhile, Vaser Hi-Def  targets both deep and superficial fat cells which is found around muscle tissue. This is suggested to tone and defined rather than reduce fat when not necessary. Finally, Vaser #4D, although similar to Vaser Hi-Def works well with the existing muscle tissue.. However, it results in more natural appearing definition to those areas, being treated. Vaser 4D is often applied to treating abdominal region to improve definition.  Additionally, it's not uncommon for Vaser Liposuction to combined with fat transfer which removes and transfers fat to another area of the body. 
Many studies indicate that there is less injury to the body with Vaser than with traditional #liposuction. Recovery from Vaser Liposuction is based on the level of soreness and bruising experienced by the patient. But, it can vary among patients. As with traditional liposuction, there are no large incisions  or effect on the muscle and other underlying tissue. Therefore, #healing time may be less than anticipated by most. Therefore, Vaser patients may experience less #pain or discomfort, #swelling (#edema) and bruising post procedure due to the nature of the technique.  An ideal #candidate for Vaser Liposuction is a person in good health who seeks a minimally invasive way to remove stubborn fat with less downtime than traditional #liposuction. Vaser is ideal for those seeking improved definition of muscles and contouring. Those who seek increased sculpting of are ideal vaser lipo candidates.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

With both VASER ultrasound and laser lipo procedures, the idea is to emulsify or liquefy the fat before suctioning it out. Soft fat doesn't require any additional treatment, but in areas where the fat is more dense because of more connective tissue, it can be helpful. Examples of this are the upper abdomen, posterior hips, and the front of the thighs. I agree with the others that the most important factor is the surgeon not the technology.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

The best liposuction is the one attached to a good surgeon. I see many good and bad examples of liposuction that have nothing to do with the Machine--but everything to do with how much fat was removed or not resulting in divots or bumps,etc. Choose a good surgeon and forget about what machine he uses.

Armando Soto, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi there-
While I absolutely believe that the VASER is a very effective and safe option for many people, it is also absolutely true that there are certain situations where the VASER represents only a minimal benefit to the patient, with significant added expense.
In my own practice, I usually explain to patients in these situations that I believe the benefit of using the VASER to address their problems would be limited, what the cost of doing so would be, and I let them make the decision.
It is possible that your surgeon feels the VASER would not benefit you very much and he/she is trying to save you some money. I don't think there is anything wrong with you asking what the thought process behind the plan is.

Raja Mohan, MD · Answer

VASER liposuction, also known as LipoSelection, is a minimally invasive body contouring procedure that uses ultrasound technology to remove fat cells: How it worksVASER stands for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance. The procedure uses a probe to emit ultrasound energy that breaks down fat cells, making them easier to remove with a traditional liposuction cannula. BenefitsVASER liposuction can be used on larger areas like the thighs, tummy, or flanks, as well as more delicate areas like the neck. It's designed to cause less pain, swelling, and downtime than traditional liposuction. ResultsThe results of VASER liposuction are permanent, unless the patient gains excessive weight. Side effectsLike any liposuction procedure, VASER liposuction can cause minor side effects such as swelling, bruising, numbness, minor bleeding, and scarring. ConsiderationsVASER liposuction may not be ideal for people with fibrous body tissue or a higher BMI, and the procedure can take more time.

Leonardo Fasano, MD · Answer

Vaser liposuction is now considered the golden standard for body sculpting. 
Evidence shows there is a higher degree of skin tightening following Vader treatments and the skin re-drapes better following the harvesting of even high amounts of fat. 
Vaser is also more gentle on the tissue, as it gently melts the fat before the suctioning stage begins. This is in contrast to the classic liposuction when the surgeon really removes fat more in chunks, increasing the chances of post operative complications such as more bruising, lumpiness and unevennes. 
I'd highly recommend going for the Vader liposuction procedure however please take note of this thought: This surgeon had a consultation with you and it should have been clear by the end of it what exact procedure he or she is planning on doing to you. If this isn't clear, the medical assistant that you talked to confirmed you're scheduled for something else, or the type of procedure is changed on the day of the procedure, please consider thinking the quality of the service they are able to provide. 
They should confirm the type of treatment scheduled for you on the day of the consultation. Informing you that you will be having something else, even if similar to Vaser, on the day of the procedure, disqualifies the "inform consent" 
Also, they should have allowed you to go home and think about it, giving you a cooling off period. 
Leaving patients unaware/ confused is not best practice.

Leonard Grossman, MD · Answer

As a rule vaser is reserved for very difficult areas to treat which either have been operated on before or just are very dense. Power-assisted liposuction on the other hand is routinely used by the doctors such as myself and other plastic surgeons to assist them with the procedure and control of the procedure itself. I believe you're in good hands and good luck from New York City

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