What is Medcontour?

Medcontour uses ultrasound energy similar to VASER Lipo but instead of passing probe into the body, underneath the skin, with Medcontour, the probe is rolled over the skin allowing the ultrasonic energy to pass through the skin into the fat cells. The fat is then disrupted and massaged away using the specific lymph node activation which is part of the Medcontour System.

What is VASERSHAPE?

When Medcontour was first introduced into the UK it was given the name Vasershape. However, many people confused this with VASER Lipo or VASER 4D which are surgical procedures. In Europe and the rest of the world, Medcontour is extremely successful, with millions of treatments being successfully carried out.

What sort of results can I get with Medcontour?

Medcontour can deliver results which are similar to liposuction in some patients. Together with a sensible lifestyle results are very encouraging and our patients are amazed at how much they lose. Loko at these results:

This is what one of our patients said about her treatments:

"After nearly completing a course of Vasershape, prior to my holiday I am delighted with the results!! Not only have I gone down a dress size, the weekly treatments have kept me focused on sticking to diet and exercise programme." Helen C, Harpenden

If you would like to book in for a consultation at our London or Hertfordshire offices please call 01582762877

VASER Mid Def swelling

VASER Mid Def is a term used by some clinics to describe an advanced form of liposuction which creates an athletic looking abdomen but without the appearance of your six pack.

Because there will be some work in the superficial layer of fat, it is advisable to have ~10 sessions of VASER AFTERCARE to minimise any swelling following the surgery. The aftercare will also help prevent any complications and smoothen results.

At Riverbanks as long as our patients sign up to our aftercare programme they will all get a VASER MID DEF procedure at the same price as a regular VASER lipo procedure.

BeforeVASER

After VASER Hi Def

VASER Lipo review at Riverbanks - my experience by Mandy

For as long as I can remember my body has been pear shaped and very out of proportion with my small waist.  After doing some research on liposuction i came across vaser liposuction and it really sounded ideal.  I went on a hunt looking for a good doctor and after meeting with 3 doctors, from the moment I walked in to the Riverbanks Clinic I knew I would be well looked after.  Dr Jain was very realistic and put my mind at ease with the procedure.  I went ahead and had vaser done on both my thighs and flanks.  There was literally no pain at all during the procedure and if I had to describe it, the word I would use is it was weird! It felt as though someone was building something under my skin but it really was not painful in any way.  The results were immediate and I was absolutely over the moon.  I remember walking in to Dr Jains office and saying I literally want the sides of my body taken off to give myself a nice smooth shape, not so pear like - this is exactly what Dr Jain did for me and the results surpassed my expectations by a million. 

Before VASER

After VASER

All my clothes are looking incredible on, I no longer have the dreaded 'muffin top' and I feel absolutely wonderful.  I could never have achieved these results without the help of Dr Jain - no gymming or dieting would have given me what I have now.  I feel even more motivated now to keep my shape and have been gyming very hard.  I am now around 2 months post vaser and the results just keep getting better.  The scarring is minimal and my cellulite has reduced.  I no longer have 'love handles' and I no longer have big thighs.  I would like to thank Dr Jain and his team for really making a dream of mine come true.  The only thing I think I think I did wrong, was not doing more areas!  

Mandy, N. London

What to expect after liposuction - secrets to help you heal quicker!

It is important to understand that liposuction is a significant step in a lifestyle change to improve the shape of your body. After all, liposuction is a surgical operation and all the risks need to be considered carefully.

Rather than being a quick fix day case, the procedure can be a rather protracted process, and one that must not be interrupted even after the actual surgery itself has come and gone. The recovery is in fact the most important stage a patient having undergone the liposuction process must take very serious by caring carefully for their body. The ability to look after oneself after the surgery determines the overall success of the procedure.

After liposuction surgery, patients usually experience fluid drainage from their incisions. In many bigger cases, a small drainage tube can be inserted beneath the skin to stop the fluid buildup. Swelling may also occur, as well as bruising, in the regions of the body specifically addressed by the surgical process. In order to control the swellings, a fitting elastic garment can be worn over the treated areas for some weeks while antibiotics must be taken as prescribed to prevent or control infections while also enhancing recovery. Post operative aftercare treatments all help to reduce swelling, bruising, infection and improve contour and hasten recovery.

To avoid infections that could result to prolonged recovery, post surgery instructions must be taken seriously. People who don’t adhere to this, despite the warnings always end up with unnecessary complications. Please don’t be one of such people as it could be life threatening.

Pains, swelling and numbness experienced after the surgery are discomforts that can be controlled with prescribed medications as well; however, the soreness and stiffness may continue for a period, and the patient should remember that. Regular movement will improve the stiffness - i.e. don't lie around doing nothing as that will also increase the risk of developing blood clots in your veins (deep vein thrombosis).

Depression is another aftermath that has been shown to occur in several patients of a liposuction surgery. Patients who experience this can help themselves by engaging in minor social activities and seeking support from their friends and families to ease the depression. Focusing on the merits of the surgery also has been known to work for some, although generally the depression disappears on its own after a few days. Normally, depression can kick in at about day 4-5 and as long as your are social and mobile it should only last a few days. But don't be suprised by the sudden tearfulness should it occur!

The healing process begins immediately after the surgery. Serious activities should be avoided for 2-4 weeks to allow the wounds to heal and also for the stiffness to settle. Liposuction does not affect the muscles and so recovery is relatively quick.

The right diets and keeping up with appointments should also be pursued for the duration of recovery as they are very essential. Liposuction patients will have had the surgery because they have struggled to lose fat! So don't go and carry on eating the same foods you were before surgery and doing the same exercises? They obviously weren't helping. After your liposuction, we advise patients to seek the support of a nutritionist or personal fitness coach who can advise on diet and exercise programmes to maintain and further enhance your new body.

If patients follow these simple instructions, you should be able to enjoy your new body quickly and permanently.

10 reasons to choose Riverbanks for your VASER Lipo surgery

1. Dr Ravi Jain is the only UK doctor to hold all 4 levels of training in VASER Lipo
2. The Riverbanks VASER team is the first UK team to visit Colombia for specific training in VASER Aftercare
3. Consultant Anaesthetists will provide you a pain-free procedure using concious sedation
4. Thanks to our VASER 4D Sculpting skills, all of our regular VASER Lipo patients get even better results as we can't help ourselves giving you the best we can!
5. We perform ultrasound scans to help plan your surgery, results and aftercare at no additional cost (in Harpenden only)
6. Your package prices will include 2 sets of compression garments and padded vests when necessary.
7. You can choose to have vaser liposuction treatments at our flagship clinic in Harpenden or in our central London offices too.
8. After your initial consultation with Dr Jain there are no further consultation fees.
9. The Riverbanks team takes pride in providing you with correct medical advice, ethical practice and high standards of care.
10. Our revision rate is one of the lowest in the world.

To book in for an exploratory consultation with VASER expert Dr Ravi Jain in London or Harpenden please call 0158 276 2877 or complete our enquiry form.

Whats the difference between Smart Lipo and VASER 4D Sculpt?

This is a very common phrase searched on the internet and I will try to explain it.

SmartLipo (or laser assisted liposuction)

• Laser technology
• Heats ALL tissues with most of the energy being absorbed by blood.
• KILLS fat cells so not able to perform fat transfer
• Not specific to fat
• Can overheat connective tissue (skin) and cause burns or contracted skin
• Long operation times
• Incision points are about 2 mm
• Cannot perform high definition liposculpture as will burn the skin

VASER (or ultrasound assisted liposelection)

• Ultrasound energy
• Selective for fat tissue
• Protects skin, nervesm blood vessels and muscle
• Burns are extremely rare
• Incision points are about 4 mm
• Can perform high definition liposculpture as protective to skin
• Fat cells stay ALIVE so can perform fat transfer

The laser technology of SMARTLIPO is quite destructive and kills tissues. VASER does not kill tissue and that is why there is less risk of damage. Clinical studies have shown that there is 70% less blood loss with VASER compared to liposuction. VASER protects tissues and so that is why it is possible to perform highly selective liposculpture using VASER 4D Sculpt techniques. Liposculpting techniques often require the surgeon to work immediately beneath the skin (superficial fat) and lasers will burn the skin at this level.

Do you want a treatment which is destructive or one that protects your body?

You choose!

Vaser 4D Sculpt Review at Riverbanks

Watch Lee explain why he chose Vaser 4D Sculpt and also see his results 4 months post op.

How safe is office-based liposuction?

A recent paper published by Startling et al in the journal Dermatological Surgery (2012;38:171-177) examined 10 years of data collected in Florida and 6 years from Alabama. The investigators looked at all in-office adverse event data in order to determine which were the safest surgical procedures carried out in-office.

Here are some of the conclusions which were made:

1. Cosmetic procedures performed in offices by dermatologists under local and dilute local anaesthesia yielded no reported complications.
2. Liposuction performed under general anaesthesia requires further investigation because deaths from this procedure continue to occur despite the ability to use dilute local anaesthesia for this procedure.
3. Requiring physician board certification and physician hospital privileges does not seem to increase safter of patients undergoing surgical procedures in-office.
4. There were NO deaths from liposuction when using tumescent local anaesthesia.

As expected, the study reported that liposuction is extremely safe when using tumescent anaesthesia instead of a general anaesthesia. There was no mention of conscious sedation so we are unable to comment on that although we believe that conscious sedation provides patients the best of both worlds in anaesthesia - i.e. complete pain relief without the risk of a general anaesthetic.

Can I have Vaser 4D Sculpt if I've had liposuction before?

Many of our Vaser 4D Sculpt patients have had liposuction before but now want to benefit from the sculpting effects of this new technique. Patients who have had a liposuction before will be referred to as 'secondary patients'. They often are not aware that their previous liposuction will make any future procedures much more challenging with greater risks and more unpredictable results. So during a detailed consultation with me, I always explain the following points:

• The previous liposuction will have caused fibrosis (scar tissue) beneath the skin and sometimes this is quite dense. Dense fibrosis raises the risks of perforation and uneven results because more force is required to pass the instruments through the tissues. However, the Vaser 2.0 Lipo system, delivers ultrasound energy much more efficiently and this copes very well with fibrotic tissues.
• When trying to create a six-pack or High Definition Liposculpture, the lines may not be as obvious during the surgery due to the fibrosis. In a patient who has not had lipo before, the sculpting is more obvious because only fat is sculpted. However, in a lipo (secondary) patient, the sculpting is done in both fibrotic and fatty layers and because the fibrotic layers are more stiff, they do not necessarily reveal their new shape straight away.
• There will be much more inflammation and swelling in secondary cases because there will be generally more trauma and blood loss when compared to first timers. As such, more aftercare sessions are generally required over a longer time and results may take much longer to develop (even up to a year). The strength of the definition achieved is much more unpredictable due to the prolonged, although patients will be slimmer and there will be a hint of definition in the worst case scenario.

For a full consultation with Dr Ravi Jain in London or Harpenden, please call 01582 762877 now.

How does Vaser Lipo work?

Vaser Lipo is a 3rd generation ultrasound device used to EMULSIFY fat before removing it from the body with relatively gentle liposuction. How is this possible? Well, the best way to explain it is to describe how traditional Suction-Assisted-Liposuction (SAL) works first.

With SAL, fluid is injected into the fatty tissue in order to minimise blood loss and also soften some of the fat. The fat cells are present in small globules of fat, a bit like seeds in a pomegranate and are held in place by collagen scaffolding, much like the pith in a pomegranate. These globules are STILL ATTACHED to the body when SAL is commenced. So it is necessary to use a relatively high powered suction to detach the fat from the body and as a result  there tends to be a higher amount of collateral damage, i.e. damage to the other structures such as blood vessels, nerves and also the collagen scaffolding. This is why there is a higher amount of blood loss with SAL when compare to VASER, and also why recovery is often slower.

pomegranate

Fat structure

Fat before treatment

VASER Lipo, starts off in a similar fashion to SAL, in that the fat is first injected with anaesthetic fluid in order to minimise blood loss, provide pain relief and also soften the fat. BUT, before suction is performed, the Vaser probe is inserted into the body and it emits ultrasonic waves into the fat to shake the fat globules off the body, breaking them up in to smaller groups of VIABLE fat cells, which look like a liquid. The energy from the Vaser probes primarily effects just the fat cells and so the surrounding tissues such as nerves, blood vessels and skin are left largely undamaged. Then the special suction tubes valled VENT-X Cannulae are used which have no sharp edges, and together with LOW POWER SUCTION, the fatty liquid is removed. The Vent-X Cannulae and low power suction cause hardly any collateral damage and so the body is less traumatised and hence recovery is quicker.

infusing anaesthetic fluid

Emulsification of fat

Aspiration (suction)

Natural Skin Restraction

Below is a video of how the Vaser probe emulsifies a fatty globule, extracted from a live operation performed at Riverbanks Clinic.

For more information about Vaser Lipo and to see if its suitable for you, book a consultation here.

Can I have Vaser Hi Def if I've already had liposuction?

Many of my patients at Riverbanks are patients who have previously had liposuction but now want a sculptured look rather than a flat, boxed shape. Others have had liposuction elsewhere, previously, and are not happy with their results so they have come to me to try and improve them. For many of these patients the only option is Vaser Hi Def or Vaser 4D Sculpting as the only layer of fat left behind is in the superficial layer, which is not usually amenable to traditional liposuction techniques.

When treating patients who have already had liposuction, it is important to wait at least a year from the previous surgery so that the tissues have stopped healing. There is often a degree of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the remaining fatty layers and this will make the operation more challenging and also slightly more bloody  than a first time case. The amount of definition achievable can vary between individuals but is generally only slight less than with a first time case. It depends on how much fat was left behind after the previous surgery.

4D Sculpt results correcting a failed Smartlipo treatment

The healing will be much longer though and aftercare sessions at the clinic are essential in order to facilitate the healing of the treated areas. It is important to stimulate the lymphatic drainage channels and encourage new vascularity of the treated areas and this is achieved with specialised aftercare at Riverbanks. I generally advise patients who had already had a liposuction and want high definition liposculpture to book in for 10-20 aftercare sessions over 4-6 weeks.

Your results will take a bit longer to show. You will see good changes immediately but the swelling will last for a few weeks and the first signs will show at 6 weeks. We will review you at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months post op.

For more information you can call 01582 762 877 or book a consultation. 

Vaser 4D Sculpt to the arms

Many men & women prefer to have more defined arms allowing them to look better at the gym or just with short sleeves. There are subtle differences between the two sexes which need to be considered. Women prefer smaller arms with slight definition of the deltoids. The lower border of the upper arm should be straighter with slight curvature at each end, defining the triceps. It is key not to make the female arm too defined or bulky.

Female 4D Sculpt definition by Dr Alfredo Hoyos

Men, on the other hand,  like bulkier biceps and triceps with well-defined deltoids. It is important not to shrink the size of the male upper arm. We can give the illusion of a bigger biceps by sculpting the fat around the biceps and the deltoid creating a horseshoe effect, often sought after at the gym. Care must be taken to compensate for the natural movement of the muscles and this is identified and marked during your pre-op examination. It is also possible to transfer some fat into your deltoids to further boost their volume.

Male 4D Sculpt definition by Dr Alfredo Hoyos

Find out more information on Vaser 4D Sculpt or other types of liposuction on our full website. You can book an appointment with one of our surgeons in London or Harpenden by calling 0158 276 2877.

Male Breast Reduction with Vaser 4D Sculpt

All of our vaser patients during 2011 requested to have their chests reduced in size with our Vaser 2.0 Lipo system. This was often in combination with treating other areas such as Vaser 4D, but for many reducing the size of their breasts was their primary concern.

Some of our men needed only sculpting while others required significant debulking of fatty breast tissue with some gland excision. The exact nature of your surgery will be discussed during your consultation with your doctor.

Vaser 4D allows the surgeon not only to debulk your chest and reduce it size but to also reshape your chest providing a more athletic shape. Athletic chests often have straighter lower sides and a straight edge towards the armpit. More feminine chests are rounded and fuller in the lower half of the breast. If one works out, the pectoral muscle will bulk up in the upper half of the breast rather than the lower half. It are these fine details which will be in the surgeons mind when he reshapes your breast during a Vaser 4D Sculpting procedure. In order to bulk up the pectoral muscles, fat may be moved from one part of your body to the pecs with Fat Transfer. After all, who has six pack abs without defined pecs?

For more information about Vaser 4D Sculpt or Male Breast Reduction surgery at
Riverbanks, it is best to book an appointment with one of our surgeons. Call 01582 762 877 now for consultations in Harley Street or Harpenden.

Vaser 4D patient talks to SKY News

Lee was treated at Riverbanks Clinic by Dr Jain. His original surgery was filmed for MTV in Dec 2011. Watch this clip form Sky News, aired 30/1/12, discussing male cosmetic surgery.

It should be noted that Vaser 4D is NOT a weight loss solution but gives men who are self conscious about their physique an option to develop an abdominal six pack and defined body without having to resort to the extreme diet and lifestyle normally required without surgery. A healthier lifestyle is required after surgery to maintain and maximise the results. Complications can occur during or as a result of any surgery, and rarely these can be life threatening.

For more information about Vaser 4D Sculpting, see our full website.

Clinic gives student athletic physique - News - Luton Today

Every single one of our male patients who had Vaser last year, treated their chests as well. With highly advanced sculpting techniques called Vaser 4D and by using the very latest Vaser 2.0 Lipo system, we can not only remove unwanted glandular tissue in the male breast, but also carefully reshape the chest and pecs into a more muscular and athletic shape.

One of our patients who suffered so much from his gynecomastia that it restricted his choice of clothing, was so pleased with his results that he told his story to the press. You can read his story in the Luton News, link below.

Clinic gives student athletic physique - News - Luton Today

Whats the difference between Vaser 4D Sculpt & Vaser Hi Def?

There is no denying that the VASER Hi-Def technique was one of the most influential body contouring procedures in the last decade. However, even earthshakers have their flaws. And as Dr. Hoyos worked more and more with Hi-Def, he realized the multiple flaws the procedure presented.

That is why he went back to the drawing board, re-imagined his creation, and has now released 4D Sculpt™ which is what I practice exclusively at Riverbanks Clinic.

The differences between 4D Sculpt™ and Hi-Def may be subtle, but when applied in the operating room, the nuances are distinctly profound. 4D Sculpt™ means the difference between clunky sculpture and natural human beauty.

Here is an in-depth explanation of the differences between VASER Hi-Def and the highly improved version, 4D Sculpt™.




VASER 4D Sculpt takes into account natural muscle movements.

VASER Hi-Def results often do not show the muscles in motion. It does not incorporate the natural progression of the body in motion. This can give rise to an 'etched' appearance rather than a natural six  pack.

How 4D Sculpt™ Fixes It:
4D Sculpt™ uses a customized combination of anatomical landmarks to prevent deformities. This ensures the newly defined muscles do what muscles are supposed to do: move! That is why 4D Sculpt™ is called 4 dimensional liposculpture. It uses height, width, depth, and dynamic motion. 4D Sculpt™ makes the natural progression of the body apparent according to muscle activity.



VASER Hi-Def is a “One Size Fits All” Procedure.

Aesthetic surgeons probably know better than anyone that every body is unique. Trying to fit a 300lb man and a 125lb woman is ineffective and produces exactly what it looks like, a “one size fits all” result. This attitude of VASER Hi-Def toward the patient causes the surgeon to be biased toward each patient, as though every body type were the same, and every individual patient just like the last.

How 4D Sculpt™ Fixes It:

4D Sculpt™ is a completely customizable procedure that takes every variable into account. A woman hoping to reverse the signs of pregnancy will be viewed much differently than a man with an excess of intraabdominal fat. An example of variables include: age, gender, body type, muscular motion, predicted weight loss, post-pregnancy markers, and so on. Every individual has their own set of different anatomical landmarks that must be taken into consideration for the final result to look like the patient’s natural body.



VASER Hi-Def is Not Dynamic Definition.

VASER Hi-Def results often appear stiff and do not move fluidly with the rest of the body. This is partially because of both the reasons stated above, because VASER Hi-Def does not plan according to each body type or according to where the muscles will move in the future. Dynamic definition encompasses the ideals of 4D Sculpt™, in that once the muscles are defined, they do not appear as though they’ve been carved out of plastic.

How 4D Sculpt™ Fixes It:
4D Sculpt™ fixes a “plastic” appearance that not only incorporates motion, but flows with it. It does this by integrating a second set of pre-surgical markings, drawn according to the patient’s muscles in a static position and in dynamic motion.

4 weeks after Vaser 4D as seen on MTV

VASER 4D Sculpt incorporates much more intensive aftercare than Hi def and this reduces the risks of complications and also speeds up recovery as well as enhancing results. You can watch a video of a treatment session here.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr Ravi Jain at Riverbanks Clinic or at his Harley Street consulting rooms.

Post-Op Aftercare following Vaser 4D Sculpt

If you've researched Vaser Lipo treatments you may have come across some people mentioning the need for after care massages. To be honest, good lymphatic drainage is essential after all forms of lipo and most lymphoedema massage therapists are experienced in treating patients following cosmetic surgery. We have found those listed on MLD UK to be very good at treating our patients who travel from long distances for their regular vaser lipo.

The post-op care following Vaser 4D Sculpt though is much more specialised as it is designed to carefully nuture back the lymphatic system to full functionality following the precise body sculpting which has been carried out during the surgery. The programme has been personally designed by Colombian plastic surgeon, Dr Hoyos, the inventor of Hi def & 4D Sculpt.

Essentially the CARE protocol uses ultrasound therapy, manual lymphatic drainage and pressuretherapy to maximise your results and comfort. We recommend 20 sessions with a minimum of 10 sessions over 2 weeks.

Here is a video of one of Dr Jain's own post op sessions following his surgery: (This video does show patient discomfort and some blood)

Dr Jain is adamant that the VASER aftercare is critical to getting outstanding results and minimising unexpected complications following your surgery. So much so that he invested in his two therapists by sending them to Dr Hoyos's clinic in Colombia to receive the most intensive and up to date training available. Both of our therapists are the ONLY ones in the UK to be trained at Dr Hoyos' clinic in Bogota. By bringing these skills back to Riverbanks, we believe we have the most qualified service for bot surgical and post op care for Vaser 4D Sculpting in the UK.