Vaser Lipo

Vaser lipo is a new concept in fat removal giving men and women the opportunity to remove fat with minimal fuss, disruption and without out having to go under general anaesthetic. Vaser Lipo uses ultrasound technology to give patients results almost immediately; it has a quicker healing time as it is less invasive and is therefore perfect for people with busy schedules. Vaser lipo also uses aspiration - the fat is broken down by ultrasound making it easier to then remove.

Where on my body can I have it?

It is designed for smaller stubborn areas of fat and can be used to treat areas such as:

• Stomach
• Back
• Chest
• Arms
• Thighs
• Love handles (Flanks)
• Knees
• Chin
• Buttocks
• Neck
• Hips

This procedure can be used on almost every area of the body except for the face and the calves/ankles. It uses advanced techniques of liposelection which offers safe and very effective body contouring and with minimal downtime.

It is possible to have four areas of the body treated in one appointment but in most cases, a maximum of two areas is recommended.

The procedure

First, you will have a consultation with a surgeon. During this consultation, you will be able to highlight the areas you wish to have treated so that the surgeon can advise whether the treatment would be suitable for you / recommend options.

On the day of surgery, the surgeon will re confirm the areas you are having treated and then mark them on your body. They will start off by numbing the area using local anaesthetic injections which, surprisingly, most people regard this as the most uncomfortable part of the whole process.

Once the painful part is out of the way, the area being treated will then be filled with a saline (salt water) and anaesthetic solution to ensure the whole area is numb and to make the process easier.

The first cannula will be inserted into a small incision to begin the ultrasound process. The probe emits sound energy in order to break down fat cells, making them easier to remove. The cannula will be moved around the area for approximately 5 minutes depending on each individual's needs.

The ultrasound cannula is swapped for aspiration apparatus – the new device is a sucking cannula which will be used to draw out the broken down fat cells from the body. This stage of the procedure can vary in length depending on the individual but does not usually take longer than around 20 minutes. It is important to remember at this stage that it is not possible to remove all fat cells; our bodies need a certain amount of fat in order to function properly.

Once the surgeon has completed this phase, the cannula is removed and a small suture or steri strip is applied to cover the incision.

Patients are required to wear a support garment for approximately 2-4 weeks post op to reduce swelling and help the remaining fat cells settle back down so that the area can go back to normal. The longer and more often patients wear this garment, the better the results will be. Full results will be seen in around 3 months but are visible the day after surgery has taken place.

Will the fat come back?

As with Liposuction, although fat has been permanently removed by the treatment, not ALL fat is removed. So if a lot of weight gain occurs, fat will return everywhere including previously treated areas. However, weight gain in areas that have been treated is less severe.

Risks and side effects

Side effects can involve a slight bumpiness of the area treated but this is usually overcome with gentle massaging of the area from two weeks post op.

As with all surgery there are risks involved, these can include;

• Infection
• Loss of sensation/ numbness for a few months

There are few risks involved in this procedure; however, as with any procedure that requires an incision to be made, there can be a risk of infection.

However, the above risks are rare and regulatory pre-operation checks are carried out in order to reduce and prevent these conditions from materialising. Patients are also provided with a course of antibiotics as a precautionary measure after surgery.

For more information on this procedure all you have to do is ask our experts your question via the portal on the homepage. You can receive free, tailored advice relating to your individual needs within 60 minutes and there is no obligation.