In the past decade, many folks have requested cosmetic treatments to get rid of extra fat that doesn’t normally respond to exercise and diet. When they come to our day surgery clinic, they usually ask about the VASER liposuction procedure versus the non-invasive fat-freezing, two different procedures with the same goal. Several aspects of liposuction and fat-freezing can make a huge difference to the outcome; that’s why they need to be further explored. If you want to learn more about them, bear with us as we reveal key facts about each treatment.
VASER is an enhancement of conventional liposuction, which entails breaking the fat down before it’s excreted out of the body. The name stands for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance.
Overall, all types of liposuction have one thing in common: they aim to eliminate fat deposits under the skin using a cannula. Where the methods differ is precision and intensity, the traditional approach being less meticulous and more aggressive. With each new technology that hits the market over time, improved techniques are introduced. Thus, this gives the operator more control over the procedure and making it possible to predict the outcome with greater certainty.
VASER liposuction is one such method. It is designed to eliminate large amounts of fat, all the while sparing nearby nerves. This reduces the downtime immensely.
Surgeons green-light healthy patients with a good medical history and no bleeding disorders. Non-smokers are at an advantage. Both men and women are suitable as long as they are close to their target weight.
The beauty of VASER is that it gives immediate results. You will notice a difference in your silhouette as soon as you step out of the clinic. That said, you should wait a few days for the swelling and bruising to subside before you can fully enjoy the perks of liposuction.
The best part is, the results will continue to unfold over the following weeks as your body recuperates. A single treatment is usually enough to rid you of the unwanted fat once and for all. In comparison, fat-freezing doesn’t do much the first time around.
VASER liposuction is effective on multiple areas, and it lets the surgeon suck out huge portions of fat at once. One of the biggest benefits is that it enables specialists to remove fat faster and more selectively, with the added bonus of keeping the surrounding tissues intact. Hence, there is a diminished risk of contour deformities. As well as that, it makes the treatment less painful and more bearable for patients.
What gives this approach an edge over the traditional technique is the use of ultrasound to heat and liquefy the fat before it’s suctioned. Reducing the duration of the procedure means that the patient is going to be exposed to the effects of anaesthesia for a shorter period. Put another way; there will be fewer side effects.
Like all liposuction techniques, VASER tends to provide skin tightening. Last but not least, it allows doctors to harvest fats and transfer them to other places in the body. Thus, the procedure can be paired with a fat graft.
Some patients report pain and numbness in the treatment area that lingers for weeks following the procedure. This can resolve if you follow your attending doctor’s advice and directions on recovery.
Another popular term for fat-freezing is cryolipolysis, cryo- meaning “cold” and -lipolysis meaning “breakdown of fat”. The treatment works on the principle of apoptosis. This is a mechanism in the body that programs fat cells to self-destruct under certain circumstances. Some time ago, scientists found that fat is highly susceptible to temperature changes, so if you reduce the temperature of the skin to a certain degree, this is going to trigger the apoptosis mode.
The good thing about this is it doesn’t affect or hurt the epidermis since the skin generally freezes at a much lower temperature than fat. Using cryolipolysis, one can reduce bulging in different areas such as the abdomen and hips. It consists of a handheld applicator that is placed on the areas of concern. A special 360 technology shock freezes the targeted fat cells to around -8 degrees, at which point the fat cells die.
Far-freezing has limited use. It works on fewer body regions than liposuction.
Although fat-freezing is effective, it does not work for everyone. The ideal candidates are those with small amounts of plump, pinchable, fat. On one hand, having too little fat is not a qualifying feature; and on the other hand, having an excess of fat may as well be an obstacle. Both men and women are suitable for the treatment. They should have no orthopaedic or neurologic problems.
In most cases, it takes multiple treatments to obtain the desired results. The more sessions you undergo, the bigger effects you’ll see. Full results will be noticeable over time.
What makes fat freezing a frequently-requested procedure is that it’s non-invasive; hence there is no breakage of skin. It can be carried out in the outpatient department. Plus, a single session allows for multiple areas to be treated at the same time, and there is less physical effort involved. Another great advantage of cryolipolysis is that patients don’t have to be sedated.
One of the biggest drawbacks of this treatment is the risk of uneven fat removal. It’s not surprising given that the procedure is carried out by a machine instead of a human being. There is less mechanical action involved which is easy on the technician but also critical for the outcome. Sometimes technology can fail us.
When it comes to fat-freezing, the technician operating the device has little control over what is happening underneath the skin. (The same doesn’t apply to liposuction.) And if the applicator is placed the wrong way, it can leave ridges across the surface, which creates irregular skin and overly unaesthetic results.
Not to mention, fat-freezing is mostly used for small areas of fat. It’s not capable of dealing with large fat deposits, unlike liposuction.
Another possible aftermath of the procedure is something called lipohypertrophy, which describes the accumulation of extra fat in the treated area in lieu of fat loss.
Lastly, the areas that have undergone cryolipolysis are not suitable for fat graft harvesting. As fat cells are so vulnerable to damage, they will not meet the requirements for fat transfer once they have been exposed to this kind of treatment.
Both fat-freezing and VASER liposuction can be employed to remove extra fat deposits on several body parts, and each one has its pros and cons. While cryolipolysis is less invasive, it’s basically not useful for large amounts of fat, not to mention, it requires a few visits to the clinic. By contrast, VASER can get the job done in one appointment, it works on more areas, and the results are visible right away. This is nothing but crucial when deciding which treatment to go with.
Dr. Shenthilkumar Naidu (Dr. Shens) is a Ministry of Health accredited Consultatn Plastic Surgeon with extensive expertise in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He is renowned for his advanced techniques in body contouring and aesthetic enhancements. For more information, visit Shens Clinic.
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