Will I Have Tighter Skin After Vaser Liposelection?

Hi-

I agree with Dr. Di Sala- and would add that the degree of skin tightening that will occur after any liposuction procedure (whether it be tumescent liposuction, Smartlipo, or Vaser liposelection) depends most on the quality of the skin present, and less on the technique chosen by you and your surgeon.

Many claims of improved skin tightening have been made in the effort to attract patients and physicians to a particular technology, but most responsible practitioners agree that no evidence supporting a significant skin tightening benefit from one technique over another exists.

In other words, if you have excess, loose skin, liposuction (in any form) is probably not going to make you flat and tight and you should consider a tummy tuck. If you have tight, firm skin, then any liposuction modality is likely to give you a pleasing outcome, and which technique is used is mostly surgeon preference.

Vaser liposuction has been shown to promote skin tightening in some cases, but the degree of improvement varies depending on several factors such as age, skin elasticity and the amount of fat removed.


During the procedure, ultrasonic energy is used to break up and liquefy the fat cells before they are removed with a small cannula. This can stimulate collagen production, which can lead to improved skin tightness over time.


However, it is important to note that Vaser liposuction is not a substitute for skin tightening surgery or other cosmetic procedures designed specifically for addressing loose or sagging skin. If you have concerns about excess skin following Vaser liposuction, it is recommended to discuss your options with a qualified medical professional who can provide personalized recommendations based on your individual needs and goals.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Hello Reggie,

I appreciate your questions! With VASER Liposuction you may achieve a tighter and smoother skin, even in delicate areas like the arms and neck. VASER Lipo is an advanced body contouring procedure that selectively remove unwanted body fat. The surgeon selects the area to be treated and uses the ultrasound-assisted device to liquefy the fat cells, leaving the surrounding nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue unaffected. By only melting fat, the VASER leads to more rapid healing and smoother results. Since the VASER also creates thermal energy, this generated heat causes further fat to dissolve and causes significant skin contracture. Results from clinical studies issued by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2009 demonstrated a 53% improvement in skin contraction relative to the standard liposuction procedures. It’s worth noting that thermal skin contracture is not attainable with traditional liposuction. Patients can also actively contribute in achieving a tighter and smoother skin after VASER Lipo, following proper post-operative care instructions. These measures include wearing specialized compression garments, 24 hours a day, for 4-6 months. Compression garments help the skin contract smoothly to your new body’s contours. Furthermore, lymphatic massages are required 24-hours after surgery to eliminate lymph fluid and totally alleviate swelling and discomfort. Consult with your plastic surgeon about your specific needs and cosmetic goals. Yours respectfully, Dr. De La Cruz.    

The ultrasound treatment of the Vaser does tighten skin slightly. The keyword being slightly. If you are looking for significant or major skin tightening, neither the Vaser or any other ultrasound device is like to satisfy you. Ditto for any laser or radio-frequency device that makes the same claims. None of these perform consistently with predictable and meaningful results to patients. I would advise you not to waste your money on non-surgical skin-tightening modalities until the technology advances.
That said, the Vaser is an excellent fat removing and contouring device. So if you are primarily interested in high-quality body-contouring the Vaser, in my opinion, is the way to go.  Consider whatever skin tightening you do get from it a bonus.

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 and, yes, it can be done on the #upper #arms.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. It's best to begin consulting with a board certified plastic surgery to learn if you are a candidate for liposuction. If so, you will then learn more about which #technique will work best for you and your goals. It is important you select a plastic surgeon who is #board-certified and has a great deal of experience with #vaser #liposuction.

Vaser Lipo will remove access/unwanted fat causing the skin on your body to tighten as there is less fat. Combining Vaser with Vanquish can give you even better results. Adding Z wave and Cellutone can speed up the healing process.

As a general rule, skin will not be tighter after liposuction. Skin has the ability to shrink wrap around the underlying tissues depending on its quality. The more superficial the liposuction, the more shrink wrapping that can occur.If the main goal of the surgery is tighter skin, then liposuction in combination with a skin tightening (excisional) procedure will be necessary. This is not what most people want to hear, but its the truth. I feel more than qualified to comment on this, since I perform traditional lipo, smartlipo, vaser lipo and power lipo. If a doctor has never used a particular technology, than their commentary lacks credibilty.

It depends.

It depends on your pre-procedure weight, your age/the condition of your skin and the size of the treated area. Vaser Lipo has been shown in a study to provide 56% more skin tightening than regular liposuction. However, no plastic surgeon can make the case that the skin itself is inherently changed if it has poor elasticity. Patients with good skin elasticity,  who have maintained ideal body weight over life will have the best results with Vaser Lipo.

If skin sagging is a large concern, a tummy tuck might be a better choice for you.

Skin tightening without the scars of major procedures such as a tummy tuck is sort of the holy grail of body contouring. Several technologies have been reported to enhance skin tightening with lipo including laser, VASER, and immediate post-lipo Thermage. It is important to compare the same patient with regular lipo on one side and whatever is being tested on the other, with some way to measure the skin shrinkage. The additional tightening ranges from about 17% to around 50%, but the clinical difference in terms of appearance is minor and none of it is enough to subsitute for tummy tucks.

VASER Liposuction has recently been shown in a 2010 medical study to tighten skin.  Vaser liposuction was performed on one leg in 20 female patients and traditional liposuction was performed on the other leg.  There was a 53% improvement in skin tightening on the leg that had VASER liposuction compared to the other leg. 

I routinely perform VASER and have done over 1,000 cases with this technique.  I have personally seen more skin tightening with VASER than traditional liposuction.  I feel that areas such as the arms, abdomen, and inner thighs can better be done with VASER even if the skin is a little loose.  This is because the VASER will result in more skin tightening.

Excellent question, and one that I put to the manufacturer of the Vaser directly. Their answer---no scientific papers have established skin tightening for Vaser liposuction.

Liposuction now comes in many types:

• Traditional Liposuction--where no energy source is applied internally

• Ultrasonic Liposuction (Vaser)--where internal ultrasonic energy is used

• Laser Liposuction (Smart Lipo, Cool Lipo)--where internal laser energy is used

All of these approaches utilize infiltration of fluid that decreases bruising and typically has local anesthetic. Traditional liposuction has stood the test of time and safety, and is the only one of the three that cannot cause a burn of the skin. Internal laser techniques are the newest.

Suffice it that there is considerable disagreement among surgeons about the differences in the relative benefits to each of these techniques. Despite the marketing hype, there is no one best liposuction technology or technique.

Bottom Line: Many claims are about Ultrasonic and Laser devices that are not supported in the scientific literature. I believe that the tool used by your surgeon is far less important than the skill with which the tool is used.

Hope this helps.