VASER Liposuction – Finesse Meets Power in Liposuction.
Liposuction is a procedure that removes stubborn fat that many of us find we can’t lose – even with a good dose of diet and exercise. VASER lipo does not replace traditional liposuction but is instead an enhancement to traditional liposuction. VASER lipo uses ultrasound energy to gently but aggressively release the fat from the surrounding tissue. The liquified fat is then removed with traditional liposuction, Dr. York Yates prefers PAL.
What is the difference between VASER Lipo and Traditional Liposuction?
All liposuction surgeries have in common; injection of tumescent fluid followed by fat removal through liposuction cannulas. The cannulas are attached to a negative pressure device; this is the “suction” in liposuction. Many surgeons will use additional technology to loosen, burn, or emulsify the fat before removing fat.
VASER lipo uses ultrasound energy to emulsify and release fat cells from their surrounding connective tissue framework. The plastic surgeon can then remove the fat with less tissue trauma resulting in a more comfortable recovery. Because the emulsified fat is more liquid in nature, the surgeon can remove fat smoothly and there is less risk of skin irregularity.
Who is a good candidate for VASER Liposuction?
The first thing to consider with candidacy is your weight. VASER Liposuction (or any form of liposuction for that matter) is not intended as a weight-loss procedure. These procedures are meant to remove stubborn pockets of fat that are impervious to your attempts to remove them. A good candidate should be within 10 percent of your ideal body weight. Just as important for candidacy is the elasticity in your skin. Your skin needs to still have elasticity because when the fat is removed the skin needs to tighten down to its new slimmer contour. Yes, the ultrasound energy does provide some skin tightening, but this only occurs if your skin still has elasticity. If your skin is loose and sagging, liposuction will only exacerbate the problem by removing fat under it. In these cases, as mentioned above, a better procedure to have Dr. Yates perform would be a tummy tuck. Otherwise, just about every person has stubborn pockets of unwanted fat in different areas across their body, and VASER Lipo is a great way to lose that fat and slim your contour.
How much weight can you lose with Vaser Liposuction?
Liposuction in general is not a weight loss procedure. Although there will be a measurable amount of fat and that fat has a real weight this is quickly replaced with water weight and swelling immediately after surgery. Liposuction is for contouring, not for weight loss. Old fashioned diet and exercise are still the mainstays of weight loss.
Does Vaser Lipo leave loose skin?
The best candidates for VASER liposuction have great skin to begin with and isolated pockets of fat. If the skin is loose before the procedure it will be loose after. For extremely loose skin, liposuction is usually not the answer and skin-tightening procedures, such as a tummy tuck, are preferred.
Are there any risks involved with VASER Lipo?
Our patients love these procedures because, while they are invasive, they aren’t overly invasive. Still, liposuction of any form is surgery, so it entails the same risks involved with any surgery: excessive bleeding, infection, and reaction to the lidocaine used in the tumescent solution. These are all quite rare, and this is even more the case thanks to Dr. Yates’s board-certified training, expertise, and experience. As for the high-frequency ultrasound energy that is assisting the process, ultrasound has been used across the medical world for decades. It has no harmful effects on the human body. Complications specific to liposuction are:
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Contour irregularities – The treated area can appear bumpy or wavy. If the patient has inelastic skin, this is more prevalent.
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Numbness – Any numbness in the area is usually temporary, but it can endure.
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Fluid accumulation – Temporary pockets of fluid (called seromas) can form. These may need to be drained.
What are the advantages of pretreating fat with VASER?
The fat that has been treated with VASER is structurally altered in a way that the expert plastic surgeon can take advantage of.
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Fat RELEASE from surrounding tissues. Efficient removal with less tissue trauma
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Fat SMOOTHING effect. The fat is changed structurally from a solid to a liquid. This liquid fat helps blend and smooth liposuction outcomes.
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HIGH DEFINITION (HD Liposuction) results. Improved fat quality and uninjured structural framework allow the expert plastic surgeon to be more aggressive with improved tissue control
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SKIN TIGHTENING. Improved fat quality and uninjured structural framework allow the expert plastic surgeon to be more aggressive close to the skin allowing for natural skin tightening effect.
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Smaller fat droplets are better equipped for FAT TRANSFER procedures such as BBL and breast fat transfer.
How does VASER Liposuction work?
Before proceeding with liposuction, the fat is prepared for removal with the VASER ultrasonic energy device. The energy is delivered through probes, which are similar to liposuction cannulas but they are solid, rather than hollow. The energy delivered to the end of the probe eumulsifies the fat, thus releasing the fat from its connective tissue framework into free, smaller clusters of cells.
Can the fat after VASER Lipo be used for fat transfer?
The fat removed after VASER is beautiful, viable, and ready for transfer. So long as the surgeon understands VASER lipo’s nuance and keeps the energy level at a gentle setting, many studies have demonstrated better viability than liposuction alone. The most common use of this fat is in BBL or fat transfer to the breasts.
What is the difference between VASER Lipo and CoolSculpting or other nonsurgical fat removal techniques?
VASER lipo is a surgical procedure and is expected to have aggressive surgical results. VASER lipo requires small incisions, anesthesia, and downtime. CoolSculpting requires no downtime but would not be expected to have the aggressive, immediate results that we see with VASER lipo. CoolSculpting is best for patients who want to see localized fat reduction but are willing to accept less aggressive results to avoid surgery.
What is the difference between VASER Lipo and Laser Liposuction (Smartlipo)?
The major difference between laser and VASER is the type of energy delivered to the fat before removal with liposuction. With laser liposuction, the energy is delivered as extreme heat created by a laser. The fat can literally be melted away with the laser, but the connective tissue can be damaged as well. VASER lipo uses a gentler type of energy that spares the connective tissue and does not generate as much burning or heat. Dr. Yates has seen many patients present after laser liposuction elsewhere who have internal deformity and scarring created by internal burning from the laser. He is not a fan of laser liposuction in general.
What is the difference between VASER Lipo and Power-Assisted Lipo?
Power-assisted liposuction uses mechanical vibration at the end of the cannula. This rapid vibration of the cannula disrupts the fatty tissue and can separate it from the connective tissue creating smaller droplets of fat then removed with liposuction. There are cases where Dr. Yates prefers PAL, cases where he chooses VASER, and cases where he prefers to use both.
VASER Liposuction is a powerful tool when used in combination with traditional or power-assisted liposuction. It gives a plastic surgeon additional tissue control for high definition results and potentially better skin retraction and quality. VASER lipo has few disadvantages but is particularly advantageous in cases of secondary liposuction or in fibrous tissue, such as the male chest.
What is the recovery like after VASER Lipo?
Most people need 1-3 weeks of downtime after VASER lipo. The recovery after VASER lipo is similar to liposuction in general but can be a little faster. There is a period of bruising, swelling, and discomfort. Sometimes we will see more swelling after VASER liposuction than other liposuction techniques. The theory is that the liquified fat “clog up” the lymphatic drainage pathways.
For this reason, we will typically recommend massage after VASER lipo procedures. Compression garments are used, and the activity level is minimized to prevent excessive swelling. Patients with multiple treatment areas or large volumes of liposuction can expect more swelling and a longer recovery.
For helpful step-by-step information on recovery after liposuction, review our recovery after liposuction page.
How long are you swollen after Vaser Lipo?
Swelling after VASER Lipo varies from patient to patient. In some patients the swelling is minimal the entire recovery, in some patients, it is more significant and can require months to improve. Patients with larger degrees of fat removal, or the need for larger VASER energy often have more swelling and slower progress.
Is VASER Lipo a good option for weight loss?
Liposuction, including VASER lipo, is not a treatment for obesity or for the patient that simply wants to lose a few lbs. Rather, liposuction is a contouring procedure, literally changing the shape of a body.
How long after Vaser Lipo will I see results?
You can expect to see a nice change immediately after the procedure. The results are not yet final results as there will be a process of swelling and resolution over the coming months. Although the results are generally quite nice by a month, Final results are generally seen at a year.
Will I ever need an additional VASER Lipo treatment in the future?
The answer to that question depends in part on you. If you want to maintain your slimmer contour created by VASER Lipo with Dr. Yates, you’ll want to incorporate exercise and good eating habits into your life. If you do these things, you’ll not only feel better, but you’ll also enjoy your slimmer contours the rest of your life.
We have a set number of fat cells, and the number doesn’t change unless we gain a large amount of weight. When we gain some weight (but not a large amount) the fat cells we have become enlarged. Conversely, they shrink with weight loss. Liposuction removes some of these fat cells, so as long as you don’t put on a ton of weight down the road you won’t need another VASER Lipo treatment on the same area.
However, once you see the improvement in the contour of the area you had Dr. Yates treat, you may want to have another area treated.
How much does VASER cost?
The cost of liposuction depends on the number of areas, the expected time and often the quality and experience of the surgeon doing the procedure. We are transparent with pricing and have included our fees on this website.