Vaser Liposuction vs. Traditional Liposuction: Which is Right for You?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure used to remove fat from beneath the skin. Two of the major techniques used are traditional, suction-assisted liposuction and Vaser or ultrasound liposuction.

Anesthetic

• Both traditional and Vaser liposuction require the use of an injected anesthetic liquid. The anesthetic is a combination of epinephrine (adrenaline), lidocaine and a salt solution, reports lookingyourbest.com.

Traditional Procedure

• The traditional procedure requires that small incisions be made in the area of fat reduction. Delaware Valley Plastic Surgery notes that a tube, called a cannula, is passed back and forth beneath the skin and fat deposits are broken up and suctioned out.

Vaser

• The Vaser procedure also requires incisions to be made, but the cannula emits ultrasound waves that cause the fat cells to liquefy. The liquefied fat is then suctioned away.

Outcomes

• While both the traditional and Vaser procedures are effective, Vaser can be used to remove larger amounts of fat, according to lookingyourbest.com.

Benefits

• The major benefit to the traditional procedure is that it is time-tested, which helps to limit the risks. The major benefit to the Vaser procedure is that the post-operative effects of swelling, bleeding and bruising are considered to be less severe