Plastic Surgery Articles

Lipoplasty, also know as liposuction is the procedure in which excess fat is removed from the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, upper arms or other areas of the body to improve the overall shape and body contours and proportions. Men and women have been getting lipoplasty for many years in an attempt to heighten their own personal image and self esteem.

During a typical lipoplasty procedure, the plastic surgeon will make small incisions in the areas with excess fat deposits and will inject the area with a sterile liquid to reduce bleeding and trauma to the body. A thin, hollow tube is then inserted into the incision to break and loosen up the unwanted, excess fat.

Once the fat is loosened it is removed with a surgical vacuum. In most cases, the patient’s recovery time is lengthened due to excess bleeding which can cause bruising, swelling and discomfort. However, a recent study reveals that Vaser ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty can reduce bleeding and therefore shorten the recovery time.

Ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty is a new technique that uses a special tube that produces sound waves while loosening the excess fat deposits. The sound waves actually liquefy the fat, making it easier to suction out through the vacuum.

Researchers conducting the study used 57 participants. Thirty participants underwent Vaser ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty while the other 27 experienced the traditional lipoplasty without the Vaser ultrasound.

Although the technique takes longer than the traditional procedure, the results prove that patients who undergo Vaser ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty experience significantly less blood loss during the procedure and significantly less bruising upon completion, making the extra time and care worth it.

The technique is still new and the long-term effects are unknown, however, the study proves that liquefying the fat through the use of the Vaser ultrasound during surgery improves the overall experience for each patient.