Solta Medical’s VASERlipo system brought a new dimension of precision and finesse to liposuction, and is now an essential tool for advanced body sculpting procedures.
VASERlipo by Solta Medical is an all-inclusive platform for infusion, emulsification and aspiration, designed to optimise every step of the liposculpting procedure. By selectively emulsifying fat cells prior to removal, the VASERlipo System enables optimal control during the procedure and reduces aspiration time and practitioner fatigue.
Colombian plastic surgeon Dr Alfredo Hoyos presented at the Advanced Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Workshop 2020 in Melbourne on his advanced body contouring techniques using the VASERlipo System – including high definition, variable definition, and alternatives to excisional body contouring like the High Definition Tummy Tuck.
‘VASERlipo is a third-generation ultrasound, which makes its mechanism of action different and more efficient than the previous generations,’ he explains. ‘It works by resonance, which means it requires less energy to deliver the results, so there is less probability of thermal injuries. An additional advantage is the pulsed mode (VASER mode) that allows us to do a very superficial emulsification, that is key to gain skin retraction and also for artistic contouring.’
In the short term, Dr Hoyos says this translates into patients feeling less pain and swelling after treatment. Long term, there is better skin retraction, improved healing and durable long-term results. ‘Additionally, the volume that can be extracted in an obese patient can be up to three times more with the use of VASERlipo, thus completely changing the end results,’ he says.
‘From a surgeon’s perspective, the VASERlipo System greatly relieves practitioner fatigue,’ he continues. ‘If you perform two or more liposuctions a day, you have to think about your stamina and the overuse of your body due to chronic physical stress.’
How VASERLipo works
During VASERlipo treatment, a tumescent fluid, which contains microscopic gas bubbles, is used to infiltrate loosely-connected fat cells. Denser tissues such as nerves or collagen fibres remain untouched. These air bubbles expand and collapse when exposed to the ultrasound energy emitted from the VASERlipo probes. The force created by the collapsing air bubbles dislodges the fat cells from the fatty tissue matrix so that they can be easily removed.
As the fat cells are displaced, they are mixed with the tumescent solution by a process called acoustic streaming, further breaking down the fat clumps into smaller groups of intact fat cells, which are subsequently aspirated. Since the air bubbles cannot intersperse between the cells of more dense tissues like blood vessels, nerves and collagen fibres, these tissues remain largely unaffected by the ultrasound energy. The majority of the fat cells in the emulsion remain intact, allowing fat that is treated and removed during VASERlipo to be used for subsequent fat grafting procedures.
A probe for every application
A range of interchangeable probes and groove patterns means the treatments that can be performed range from larger volume reduction right through to very small delicate areas such as under the chin.
‘The probes have a different number of grooves,’ Dr Hoyos explains. ‘The more grooves, the more power goes to the sides. So, a one-groove probe is used for fibrotic tissues and areas where the anatomy makes the tissues have more resistance. Examples of these areas are the upper back and the buffalo hump. The penetration and efficacy of treatment of fibrotic tissue is far easier with the use of this technology.’
A two-groove probe is for moderate resistance and can be used for most areas like the back, flanks and arms. A three-groove probe is used for soft tissues, examples of these are the lower abdomen, medial thighs and neck.
‘In my experience, VASERlipo provides the surgeon with extra options in areas and subjects that were traditionally difficult to treat,’ he says.
‘I have been using VASERlipo since 2005 due to its efficacy, reliability and ease of treatment, its ability to enable me to treat areas and subjects traditionally difficult, as well as helping to avoid the physical fatigue of performing liposculpture,’ Dr Hoyos concludes. AMP
Convenience And Comfort
- Minimally invasive with fast patient recovery
- Specifically tuned ultrasound energy to preserve connective tissue
- Clinically proven to enhance skin retraction1 and reduce blood loss2
- Wide array of probe and cannula options to treat all areas of the body
- Easy-to-manoeuvre unit requiring a minimum amount of space
Components For Advanced Sculpting
- Precision Fluid Management System – Simplifies fluid tracking by precisely measuring infiltrate volume up to 4500mL.
- VentX Aspiration – For quiet, efficient removal of fatty tissue with precise suction pressure control to preserve fat cell viability.
VASER Ultrasonic Amplifier – Efficient fragmentation of fatty tissue using continuous and/
or pulsed wave energy with convenient display to track activation time. - Peristaltic Pump – Smooth, adjustable, reversible infiltration.
- Wireless Footswitch System – easy control over infiltration and ultrasound activation.
- VentX Precision Vented Cannulas – Maximise aspiration efficiency and speed and minimise tissue damage.
- Grooved Probes and Handpieces – facilitate precise contouring in all anatomical applications and increase efficiency for fibrous, medium and soft tissues.
1. Broadway, D.R. Skin Retraction and the VASERlipo System. White Paper, 2012.
2. Garcia, O., Jr., Nathan N. (July/August 2008) Comparative Analysis of Blood Loss in Suction- Assisted Lipoplasty and Third-Generation Internal Ultrasound- Assisted Lipoplasty. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 28(4): 430-435.
