A 25-year-old female, we used VASER liposuction to get high-definition results. Note the waistline reduction and fat transfer for a natural BBL.
The patient demonstrated above presented to SurgiSculpt in good shape and chose to undergo VASER liposuction instead of power-assisted liposuction (PAL) to get her high-definition body contouring results. Power-assisted liposuction vs. VASER liposuction is commonly asked in the cosmetic plastic surgery industry. Power-assisted liposuction and ultrasound-assisted liposuction are two advanced modalities commonly utilized in body contouring surgeries. However, patients need to be educated on the similarities and differences between these two tools. One liposuction technique is not necessarily a substitute for the other; we will explain it below.
Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction
VASER liposuction is the most well-known form of UAL (ultrasound-assisted liposuction). The acronym VASER stands for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance. In short, it utilizes ultrasound energy to emulsify or “melt” the fat before liposuction. This process is called cavitation and brings all the fat to an even playing field since the fat cells convert to a liquid form, thus allowing for comprehensive fat reduction while preserving a smooth contour outline.
A trained high-definition liposuction specialist can utilize this advantage of ultrasonic energy over traditional liposuction to achieve superior body contouring results. Natural shadows and muscle highlights can be created when the ultrasound energy is administered with compression coupling techniques, resulting in jaw-dropping results. The superior control of removing fat deposits makes VASER lipo a game changer over other liposuction surgical procedures. Another major advantage of this technology is the increased viability of harvested fat that can then be transferred to the buttock in BBL procedures. By emulsifying the fat before suctioning it out, over 90% of the fat cells remain uninjured and viable for fat transfer procedures routinely used in body contouring.
It is important to note that VASER liposuction is differentiated from all other types of liposuction in the way it processes the fat. Once the fat has been melted, the fat can be removed using any liposuction cannula, which is a hollow tube used to extract undesired fat pockets. This differentiation is important to make and sheds light on why VASER liposuction versus power-assisted liposuction is not necessarily independent of each other.
Power-Assisted Liposuction
Power-assisted liposuction utilizes rapid vibrations and oscillations of the cannula to remove fat deposits. When used by itself during liposuction surgery, it helps break up the fat before liposuction. The advantage of PAL is that it removes fat faster than regular liposuction methods, which utilize the strength of your arm to oscillate the liposuction cannula.
This is ideal for patients with generous fat pockets or fibrous tissues, such as the flanks. This advantage of PAL results in reduced liposuction times, thus reducing operative times. However, PAL does not guarantee even and uniform fat removal that is feasible with ultrasound-assisted liposuction. Moreover, PAL can remove the fat once ultrasound energy has been administered to emulsify the fat. In essence, UAL and PAL technologies can be combined to optimize liposuction outcomes. The appreciation of functionality should help clarify any confusion regarding patients who are curious as to whether they should undergo UAL or PAL. The correct answer to this question is that both advanced technologies can be combined to improve overall outcomes.
Suppose you are interested in high-definition liposuction results with comprehensive fat removal at both the superficial and deep levels. In that case, ultrasound-assisted liposuction is currently considered the gold standard in the body contouring industry. PAL can be supplemented to your UAL procedure to optimize fat removal!
