Saturday, February 25, 2012

VASER Liposuction in The Woodlands | Houston

What is VASER Liposuction?

Ultrasonic liposuction for body contouring began in the late 1980's and early 1990s.  The VASER system was developed in the late 1990s to reduce complications, reduce physician fatigue, and allow for faster patient recovery.



So What is the VASER?
  • VASER stands for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy
    at Resonance
  • This liposuction system employs mechanical and acoustic forces to emulsify fat within a targeted area, while preserving other
    important tissue structures.

    • "VASER Lipo utilizes acoustic forces to safely dislodge fat cells while protecting surrounding tissues, ultimately producing a clean, smooth aspirate with excellent cell viability."
  • The fat deposits emulsified from a VASER system are then removed from the body by aspiration (liposuction.)
  • The individual fat cells remain intact after emulsification from VASER.  Thus,  fat collected during the VASER Liposuction may be harvested for autologous fat transfer. 
VASER Liposuction by Dr. Emmanuel De La Cruz (Before & After VASER Liposuction 1 Month)
Before and after liposuction:  VASER Liposuction by Dr. Emmanuel De La Cruz

What are the potential complications from VASER Liposuction?
  •  Burning of the skin
  •  Contour irregularities (less with the VASER when compared with traditional liposuction.)
ADVANTAGES of VASER Liposuction?
  • Improved skin retraction according to reports by physician users
  • "No serious complications reported related to VASER technology in more than 70,000 procedures." 
  • "No complications, burns, contour irregularities or prolonged swelling in a study of 77 patients, no revisions needed in a multi-center pilot study."

New technology in plastic surgery is exciting.  VASER Liposuction may improve one's body contour, but not everyone would be a candidate.  It is essential to see your plastic surgeon if one would be a candidate for a liposuction, whether it be VASER, Smart Lipo or traditional suction lipectomy.  Further procedures, such as a tummy tuck, may be needed to achieve the ideal body that one would want.

Emmanuel De La Cruz MD PLLC

References:
Jewell, Fodor et al. ibid. pp 137–140; Garcia, Proven Safety of the VASER, ibid, pp 2–3
Jewell, Fodor et al. Clinical application of VASER-assisted lipoplasty, ibid. pp 131–145 
Mark Shafer, PhD.  Principles of Ultrasound for Body Contouring: The VASER® System. 
EB De Souza Pinto, MD, R. Federico MD, et Al. Lipomioplasty with VASER: A New Approach to Body Contouring. In: Innovations in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Editors M. Eisenmann-Klein and C. Neuhann-Lorenz, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany, 2008, p. 433-442.
Onelio Garcia, et al. Comparative Analysis of Blood Loss in SAL and Third-Generation Internal UAL. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc. Volume 28, Number 4, July/August 2008
Prado A, et al. A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial Comparing Laser-Assisted Lipoplasty with Suction-Assisted Lipoplasty. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 118(4):1032–1045, September 15, 2006.

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