Vaser liposelection can deliver a perfectly sculpted body with minimal downtime.
Have you ever been invited to a beach party or a sailing trip only to stare at the invitation card with a sense of dread? For those of us with sagging skin or extra fat, the thought of wearing a bathing suit in public can bring on a cold sweat.
Thankfully, advancements in technology include an aesthetic plastic surgical procedure known as Vaser liposelection. Vaser is third generation ultrasound-assisted liposuction. It is a minimally invasive treatment that not only melts stubborn fat, it tightens skin to improve tone and texture. Compared to conventional liposuction, Vaser is associated with less bruising, pain and swelling; and a shorter recovery. After Vaser, you can return to your normal routine within one to three days.
At the start of the procedure, the targeted area is injected with a numbing solution. This process tumescent anaesthesia has several effects: it shrinks local blood vessels to reduce blood loss and bruising, numbs the area for comfort, and provides a fluid medium in which Vaser works best to efficiently break down stubborn fat.
Once this is done, fine probes are inserted into the skin to deliver ultrasonic energy into the fatty layer, causing the fat to shake apart and liquefy or “melt”. The destroyed cells are removed from the body through small tubes by a combination of gentle massage and suction. The selective removal of unwanted fat sculpts the body or face to achieve ideal aesthetic contours, while preserving important surrounding tissues such as blood vessels and nerves.
Additionally, the fat removed during liposuction can be injected into other parts of your body, such as the face, breasts or buttocks, for further enhancement and a contoured body.
Vaser liposuction can be safely performed by a surgeon on the abdomen, hips, back, inner and outer thighs, arms, neck and face. Hi-Definition Vaser involves the shaping of athletic definition – such as sixpacks – from surface fat.
The procedure is especially suitable for people suffering from gynaecomastia or ‘man boobs’, a condition where excess fat and breast tissue develops in a man’s chest area. Gynaecomastia, which cannot be improved through diet or exercise, causes embarrassment and undermines confidence.
There are limits to how much fatty tissue can be safely removed from the body within one session. The upper limit per session is usually less than six litres. If more fat needs to be removed, a second session can be performed after two to four weeks.
Your skin will also need to be assessed. Although Vaser does result in some skin tightening, patients with severe skin laxity may need additional skin tightening procedures for best results.
The results, maintained with proper diet and exercise after the procedure, are typically permanent. Do note that Vaser liposuction is not intended as a weight loss solution. The goal is to create a slimmer athletic silhouette while enhancing aesthetic contours.
It’s time to stop avoiding those beach parties.
* Dr Colin Tham was one of the pioneer group of plastic surgeons trained in Vaser hi-definition liposculpture and introduced the technique to Singapore in 2007.
