Traditional liposuction has been effective at erasing hard-to-lose fat for decades. Patients look and feel better after surgery. Their clothes fit better. And they feel more confident and self-assured in their own skin.
If you’ve ever gone through traditional liposuction, however, you know there are downsides too. The agitation of surgery can leave extensive bruising. Healing can be painful and arduous, with lots of swelling and puffiness. And finally, sometimes the results aren’t quite what you were looking for, especially in terms of precision.
Now, enter Vaser liposuction — sometimes known as ultrasound assisted liposuction.
This new take on traditional lipo has revolutionized the world of cosmetic surgery, providing a number of unique benefits. Of course, as with anything in life, there are a few drawbacks too. Below, we’ll take a look at the top Vaser liposuction pros and cons.
What Is Vaser Liposuction?
VASER stands for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance. This is a fancy way of saying that ultrasound frequencies are used to emulsify (liquefy) the patient’s fat cells.
Whereas before (with traditional liposuction), the fat was physically removed from the surrounding tissue through the agitation of the plastic surgeon’s movements, Vaser now allows the surgeon to do less physical labor to dislodge the fat. The fat is liquefied through the ultrasound frequencies and comes out much more easily.
This isn’t to say that there is not a place for traditional liposuction anymore. In some situations, it may make sense to use the traditional method. However, in many situations — especially in recent years — Vaser liposuction has been shown to be far superior.
Of course, we want to give you the full picture when you are choosing between Vaser liposuction and any other type of liposuction. Therefore, we’ve outlined both the pros and cons of this revolutionary technology below.
Pros and Cons of Vaser Liposuction
Vaser Liposuction Pros
Let’s take a look at the main Vaser liposuction pros and cons.
Less trauma to tissue
Because your plastic surgeon will not need to agitate the fat that is to be removed so that it can be suctioned out, this causes less trauma to the surrounding tissue.
During the agitation process of traditional fat removal with liposuction, blood vessels and the surrounding fat tissue are often severely damaged. Excess fat can still be removed this way, but the damage it causes often results in pain, especially during the initial recovery period.
With ultrasound assisted liposuction, the ultrasound energy does the work of “shaking” that deep fatty layer free of its fat cells. This results in easy removal and less trauma and blood vessel damage.
Minimal discomfort
Naturally, all patients will be kept comfortable during the procedure with anesthesia. However, by minimizing the trauma to the surrounding tissue with Vaser liposuction, patients also experience less overall discomfort both during and after the procedure. It is simply a much more relaxing and less-invasive procedure.
Superior, more-precise contouring
Vaser’s ability to loosen and liquefy fat cells in the target area means that your surgeon can more precisely remove (or suction out) the fat. With traditional lipo, when your surgeon is both dislodging and suctioning out the fat — almost at the same time — some blood vessels are also removed, which is not ideal. We only want to remove stubborn fat deposits, and Vaser liposuction 360 allows for this more exact removal.
Vaser Liposuction Cons
Scars are inevitable
Your Vaser liposuction procedure requires incisions, and when incisions are required — no matter what liposuction method is being utilized — scars will result.
Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about severe, noticeable scarring after a minimally invasive procedure such as Vaser liposuction. The incisions for this type of fat removal are usually only a few millimeters in length, so they are very small, resulting in very small scars. Other cosmetic surgeries such as tummy tuck surgery require far larger incisions, thus causing larger scars.
Vaser tends to cost more
The cost of Vaser liposuction may be higher than that of traditional liposuction. This is largely because the technology required for this procedure is expensive.
Moreover, surgeons must be specifically trained in Vaser liposuction and the related body contouring techniques, such as high definition liposuction (also known as HD lipo).
In a similar vein, plastic surgeons are performing a more involved surgery when they do the precise body contouring that Vaser enables. Often, Vaser liposuction procedures last longer than traditional liposuction procedures because of this.
You’ll still need to wait to see your results
Like traditional liposuction, Vaser lipo does cause swelling, bruising, and some slight discomfort during the recovery period. While some patients have noted that these side effects are not as intense as they are with traditional lipo, they will still be present.
As a result of this, patients will have to wait to see their full results — just as with most other invasive cosmetic surgeries. While the unwanted fat will certainly be gone and you will be at a lower body weight, the surrounding tissues will be inflamed and swollen.
Advanced Benefits of Vaser Lipo and Modern Body Contouring
How Vaser Lipo Works
Vaser lipo uses ultrasound energy to break down fatty tissue, creating emulsified fat that is easier to remove. A tumescent fluid, often mixed with a saline solution, is injected before the surgical procedure to loosen the unwanted fat cells. This process makes Vaser one of the most effective forms of ultrasonic liposuction, especially when compared to traditional liposuction, which requires more manual effort and causes more tissue trauma.
Precision in Body Sculpting
With Vaser lipo, surgeons can shape multiple areas of the body at once, achieving detailed body sculpting results. Its ability to target multiple areas allows for minimally invasive body contouring that provides smoother lines and enhanced skin retraction. Patients often choose this option as part of plastic surgery plans to refine their figure while enjoying the benefits of a minimally invasive body treatment.
Fat Transfer and Fat Grafting Options
Another advantage of Vaser lipo is its compatibility with fat transfer procedures. The emulsified fat removed during surgery can be purified and reused for fat transfer or fat grafting, enhancing volume in areas like the face, breasts, or buttocks. This dual benefit makes Vaser lipo both a body sculpting and body-enhancing tool.
Cost and Recovery Considerations
While patients must consider Vaser liposuction cost, the long-term benefits often outweigh the price. After surgery, wearing a compression garment helps control swelling and supports healing. Unlike laser liposuction, which uses heat, Vaser relies on ultrasound energy, reducing trauma to blood vessels and promoting quicker recovery. Although not a weight loss solution, it is highly effective for contouring stubborn areas resistant to weight loss through diet and exercise.
FAQs: Vaser Lipo
What happens 10 years after liposuction?
Your body will usually keep the sculpted shape from surgery for many years as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Over time, however, the natural aging process can reduce skin elasticity and muscle tone, which may gradually affect your results.
Does fat return after vaser liposuction?
This is a common misconception. After your VASER Lipo procedure, any future weight gain or loss will usually be distributed evenly across your body. The fat that has been removed is gone for good, and with a healthy lifestyle of proper diet and exercise, it will not come back or shift to other areas.
How many pounds can vaser lipo remove?
On average, patients can expect to lose about two to five pounds when undergoing full-body liposuction or Lipo360. The exact amount of fat removed varies based on your body weight and overall body fat percentage.
Call Today to Book Your Consultation
More and more patients are turning to Vaser liposuction as their lipo procedure of choice. To find out if you would make a good candidate for this type of surgery, call today and book your consultation appointment with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber.
We hope to speak with you soon!