Vaser Liposuction in Beverly Hills

What is Vaser-Assisted Liposuction?

Vaser-assisted liposuction (VAL) is a very specialized, type of liposuction that utilizes state-of-the-art ultrasound technology to enhance the removal of unwanted fat from the body. Vaser is an acronym for “ vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance “.

Vaser liposuction is a minimally invasive procedure that is incorporated into traditional liposuction, through the same incisions used to remove the fat. The Vaser liposuction technology works by selectively targeting and breaking down fat cells through a process known as acoustic streaming, allowing for easier and more predictable removal of the unwanted fat.

The procedure takes as little as a few minutes to as much as an hour, depending on the number of areas being treated on the body, the amount of fat being removed, and the degree of contouring that the patient is seeking. Once the fat is broken down by the Vaser technology, it easily is removed by traditional or power-assisted liposuction, creating a much-improved contour, with less pain, bruising, and tighter skin.

Vaser liposuction is commonly used in revision liposuction procedures because it is able to create very smooth tissue planes, eliminating and correcting dents and asymmetries left from previous liposuction procedures.

Vaser liposuction is considered the gold standard treatment for 4D high-definition liposuction due to its superior body contouring capabilities.

Benefits of Vaser Liposuction

The Vaser liposuction technique is true and tested in the field of aesthetic plastic surgery. It boasts over an 89% approval rating on Realself. It is a highly efficient minimally invasive option for those that want to eliminate unwanted fat with unsurpassed body contouring capabilities.

Vaser liposuction, also known as VASERlipo, offers several benefits. These include:

• Reduced downtime
• Smoother skin
• Enhanced skin tightening
• Minimally invasive
• Enhanced, more precise results
• Versatility in treatment areas
• Enhanced & unsurpassed sculpting ability
• Superior to all non-invasive fat removal procedures
• Results seen as early as the first post-operative day
• Less traumatic than traditional liposuction
• Targets fat cells while leaving surrounding tissue unaffected
• Corrects unwanted irregularities from previous liposuction procedures
• Superior etching for 4D high-definition results
• Less bruising / swelling
• Less pain
• Less post-operative discomfort
• Decreased surgeon fatigue

How the Procedure Works

Vaser liposuction procedures may be performed in-office or at an accredited surgery center, depending on the size and number of areas being treated. Procedures performed under a general anesthetic require a pre-op work up which includes labs, medical clearance, and and ECG when indicated.

Vaser liposuction is a safe and highly effective minimally invasive fat removal treatment that offers several advantages over conventional liposuction. It is a one-of-a-kind permanent solution for the management of unwanted fat deposits and provides unparalleled results in offering 4D high definition body contouring.

Before & Preparation

During your consultation, Dr. Vallecillos will determine if Vaser liposuction is right for you. Treatment goals will be discussed and reasonable expectations will be set. Additionally, Doctor Vallecillos will take a full medical history, including medications and previous surgical procedures. This is also the time to ask any procedural questions you may have. Lastly, pre-and postoperative instructions will be reviewed in preparation for your surgery.

Vaser liposuction does not require extensive preparation. However, there are actions you can take to decrease the risk of bleeding and bruising, and improve your recovery

• Avoid anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin and ibuprofen for two weeks prior to the procedure.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine 24 hours before the procedure.
• Stop smoking 2 weeks before the procedure.
• Avoid certain supplements such as tumeric, ginger, vitamin E, garlic, CoQ10, and ginkgo biloba two weeks prior to the procedure.
• Increase hydration prior to the procedure.

During the Procedure

• Anesthesia: Vaser liposuction is typically performed under a general anesthetic for larger cases, although smaller cases may be performed under a local anesthetic with sedation.
• Duration: 1 hour and up
• Target Areas: Abdomen, arms, back, calves, flanks, hips, thighs, and submentum
• Device: Vaser ultrasonic amplifier with modifiable probe lengths and sizes
• Pain: Well controlled with oral analgesia

Step-by-step guide:

• Anesthesia is provided either as a general anesthetic or with sedation
• Tumescent fluid ( local anesthetic ) is injected into the areas of interest and the numbing agent is allowed to take effect for 20 minutes. Blood vessels also shrink during this process which reduces bruising.
• Next, through small well-hidden incisions, the Vaser ultrasonic amplifier is passed radially through the treatment areas, transmitting sound waves that disrupt fat cells, without harming surrounding tissue, until endpoints are reached ( time and/or amount of resistance ).
• Once the tissue is Vasered, the fat is easily removed through the same incision via either traditional or power-assisted liposuction ( PAL ).
• Additional contouring is performed depending on the patient’s goals and desires ( from conventional contouring to high-definition contouring ) with the result being improved muscle definition
• The result is a substantial improvement in contour with permanently removed fat and a smooth appearance. Once healed, the overlying skin will be noticeably tighter. This may take several months to appreciate
• Lastly, a specialized compression garment is applied to assist with swelling and body contouring. The garment is worn for 6 weeks in most instances

Infiltration

Tumescent Infusion: Tumescent fluid (numbing fluid) is infused throughout targeted fat tissue. Tight junctions between cells within blood vessel walls and connective tissues prevent gas bubbles from interspersing among and affecting these tissues.

Fragmentation

Cavitation: Acoustic energy which is generated through the Vaser device and delivered through the ultrasonic probe results in rapid formation and collapse of bubbles in the tumescent fluid. This dislodges clusters of intact fat cells with minimal (if any) impact on the surrounding tissue ( blood vessels, nerves, muscle).

Acoustic Streaming: Grooves found on the ultrasonic probe generate strong localized fluid forces, further separating dislodged fat clusters into smaller clumps. These smaller clumps of fat can later be used for fat grafting, where indicated.

Aspiration

Fat Removal: The specially designed small-diameter cannulas minimizes trauma to vessels, nerves and the fibrous tissue matrix when inserted to suction out the mixed fat cell and tumescent fluid emulsion.

Retraction

Retraction: The heat imparted on the fibrous network connecting the muscle to the overlying skin results in super skin retraction ( tightening ) as compared to conventional liposuction.

Tissue Remodeling: The removal of adipose tissue during liposuction creates a space for optimal retraction to occur.

Aftercare & Recovery

• Downtime: 5-10 days
• Common side effects: Swelling, mild bruising
• Duration of side effects: Majority of swelling gone at 2 weeks. All swelling is gone by 4 months.
• Ultrasound and lymphatic massage are commenced on post-operative day #1 to expedite the removal of excess fluid.
  Hyperbaric oxygen is recommended for a reduction in inflammation.
• Avoid heavy exercise for one month.
• Avoid swimming in the pool, hot tub, lake, or ocean for no less than two weeks.

Vaser Liposuction Treatment Areas

Vaser liposuction is applicable to most areas where there is an excess of unwanted fat or where additional body contouring definition is desired. Treatable areas with Vaser include:

• Abdomen
• Arms
• Back / Flanks
• Thighs
• Calves
• Submentum (under chin area)
• Chest / Gynecomastia

Am I a good candidate for Vaser Liposuction?

Vaser liposuction is a highly specialized technology in aesthetic surgery that utilizes ultrasonic energy to disrupt unwanted excess fat from specific areas of the body, which are then removed with traditional liposuction techniques. Vaser liposuction provides unparalleled in body contouring and is the gold standard treatment in providing 4D high definition liposuction results.

The ideal candidate for Vaser liposuction meets the following criteria:

• Age: ≥ 22 years
• BMI: ≤ 28
• Lifestyle: Active
• Non-smoker
• Non-diabetic
• Good overall health
• Realistic expectations
• Good skin tone

Have stubborn areas of fat resistant to diet and exercise

Is seeking a more defined or even extremely well defined body contour

Vaser liposuction may not be ideal for patients who have one or more of the following contraindications:

• Synthetic implants in the treatment area
• Pregnant or nursing mothers
• Open wounds, sores, or irritation in the treatment area
• Allergies to stainless steel or topical, injected, or oral medications that are necessary for treatment.
• History of bleeding, or autoimmune disorders (Active ITP, collagen disorders, lupus, etc.)
• Systemic or acute local skin infections (Hepatitis disorders, high doses of anticoagulants or blood thinners, HIV, etc.)
• Currently on chemotherapy
• Use of high-dose corticosteroids
• Body surgery in the area ( eg. tummy tuck less than 4 months ago )
• Anemic
• Significant skin laxity in the treatment area of interest

Procedure	Vaser	J Plasma	Bodytite
Energy type	Ultrasonic	Cold Plasma	RF
Realself Approval Rating	89%	65%	81%
Conductive tissue heating	No	Yes	No
Stimulates Collagen Production	Yes	Yes	Yes
Skin tightening	Mild to Moderate	Moderate to Excellent	Moderate to Excellent
Breaks down fat	Significant	Minimal	Moderate
Treats gynecomastia	Yes	No	Yes
Cost/area	$3500	$4500	$4500
Treatment time/area	3-20 minutes	Seconds	30 minutes +
Anesthesia type	Local – General	Local – General	Local – General

Revision Liposuction with Vaser Assistance

Skin depressions, “ dents”, and soft-tissue asymmetries are an all too common side-effect of liposuction. Correction with traditional liposuction methods is less than ideal because the technology employed in removing fat does not have the capability to adequately correct soft tissue asymmetries. Before we get into how vaser liposuction can assist in correcting skin depressions, let’s first take a look at the skin architecture.

As seen in the photograph above, there exist two discrete fat layers under the skin separated by a fibrous layer known as fascia. Traditional liposuction is generally performed in the deeper fat layer which lies in a loose areolar plane which is largely devoid of a structured fibrous network, thus making the fat very easy to extract through liposuction. This is converse to the superficial fat, which lies within a complex fibrous network of retaining ligaments, making it very difficult to extract with conventional liposuction techniques.

Contour deformities secondary to traditional liposuction are typically due to the following reasons:

• Lack of experience in liposuction by the practitioner
• Overzealous attempt to remove superficial fat pads with traditional liposuction methods

Vaser liposuction provides a means to successfully address fat both in the superficial and deep planes due to its ability to emulsify fat, making it much easier to extract than traditional liposuction. The result is a comprehensive volume reduction of superficial and deep fat planes, with the added ability to create enhanced contour definition.

Additionally, if the patient has mild to modest skin redundancy and/or soft-tissue laxity in the areas being treated with Vaser liposuction, additional procedures such as Renuvion J Plasma and Bodytite can be introduced to optimize the skin tightening.

If you feel you have developed contour deformities due to sub-optimal liposuction results, contact the offices of Doctor Vallecillos to see if Vaser liposuction can be used as a corrective measure.

Side Effects & Risks

Common side effects from Vaser liposuction may include:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Redness
• Burning
• Seroma
• Pain
• Numbness
• Bleeding/oozing

Less common side effects from Vaser liposuction may include:

• Hematoma
• Hyperpigmentation or Hypopigmentation
• Infection
• Scarring
• Skin Necrosis
• Local anesthetic risks
• Asymmetries / skin irregularities

Frequently Asked Questions