A 51-year-old female following high-definition liposuction of the abdomen, flanks, and lower back with fat grafting to the buttocks to correct contour irregularities created from prior contouring procedures.
Liposuction of the abdomen, flanks, and lower back with fat grafting to the buttocks. Corrected contour irregularities created from prior contouring procedures
VASER lipo’s pros and cons have been debated over the last ten years. VASER liposuction was introduced well over a decade ago as a proprietary technology that allowed for more comprehensive and controlled removal of fat from the body. To achieve these advances, VASER liposuction utilizes ultrasound energy to melt the fat first, which occurs through a process called cavitation. Cavitation describes the teasing out of fatty tissues from neighboring vessels and nerves and their conversion from solid fat clusters to liquified single fat cells.
The cavitation process is the main difference between VASER liposuction and traditional liposuction. However, VASER liposuction pros and cons were greatly debated, especially early on after its introduction in 2004. VASER liposuction pros and cons have been now clearly established as below.
VASER Lipo Pros and Cons
VASER liposuction pros have included:
- Comprehensive fat removal
- Ability to create natural shadows and unveil muscle highlights
- Ease of healthy fat removal
- Capacity to correct prior liposuction deformities
- Capacity to remove scar tissue
- Less discomfort to the patient
VASER liposuction cons have included:
- Skin compromise with point endpoint burns and entry-hole injury
- High learning curve
- Need for serial postoperative lymphatic messages
- Propensity for seromas
The first and second-generation VASER machines were indeed plagued by incidents of skin compromise concerning endpoint burns and entry-hole injuries. This increased propensity for endpoint burns was due to the VASER probe’s inability to detect thermal peaks and a safety mechanism that turned the ultrasound energy off if the wand was not moving.
However, the third-generation machines introduced after 2010 were updated with safety features that automatically shut off the ultrasound energy transmitted through the wand when necessary. The advent of this safety mechanism as well as port protectors have eliminated entry-hole injuries. Ago has been updated with safety features that have eliminated endpoint burns. With appropriate training, the risk for endpoint burns has been dramatically reduced during this cosmetic surgery.
As such, Solta Medical, the creators of VASER technology, have committed to providing mandatory training to physicians purchasing third-generation machines. Although VASER liposuction has a higher learning curve, this invasive procedure can be performed proficiently with appropriate training.
Another con of VASER liposuction is the propensity for the development of seromas that occurs by ultrasound waves cavitating solid fat cell clusters to liquified single-cell fat cells. Even though most of these cells are removed with suction, inherently, a small aliquot of liquified fat may remain. The liquefaction process is what makes VASER liposuction prone to postoperative seromas. Several precautions and measures may be taken to minimize this risk. These include consuming a healthy diet high in protein to increase the density of proteins in your blood vessels to minimize the risk of oozing plasma fluid from the vessels into the soft tissues, which comprise the volume of fluid in a seroma. Another measure is to utilize drains placed at the end of the operation and meant to drain the residual fluid. A final measure is to complete serial lymphatic messages, which promote the elimination of any fluid build-up through the drains. Cosmetic surgeons can perform liposuction with ultrasound technology without many cons, which experienced surgeons best demonstrate. In general, all cons can be limited during surgical procedures performed with precaution and optimizing the healing process.
Today, VASER liposuction pros and cons are leaning towards the pros. There are no cons to VASER technology other than the steep learning curve. The learning curve is steep because the potential body contouring results attained with the VASER machine are endless. Creating natural shadows and muscle highlights may require extensive experience to master the art of sculpting.
Considering the achievable results like this patient, you quickly realize that this machine is the GOLD STANDARD of contouring technologies. This patient demonstrates a dramatic transformation following high-definition liposuction of the abdomen, flanks, and lower back, making VASER liposuction pros and cons an unfair consideration.
