What happens if I put on weight after Vaser?

I get asked this question a lot and during my consultations I make sure this is covered even when it is not asked as it is an important fact which needs to be considered. Lets first explain how fat is deposited in adults.

pinching subcutaneous fat

Adults have a finite amount of fat cells and not usually grow any more fat cells. When people put on weight, their current fat cells simply expand, and when they lose weight, these cells shrink again. Men and women lay down fat differently. Women tend to lay down fat under the skin and around the abdomen. This is called peripheral fat or subcutaneous fat and is easily pinchable around the waistline. Only when women are obese do they tend to put down fat internally around the organs.

On the other hand, men tend to put down fat inside the abdomen, around the internal organs first. When they are obese they then lay down fat under the skin. This has important consequences as internal fat or 'visceral fat' can lead to heart disease, diabetes and cancers. So it is very important for men to lose visceral fat to prolong their lifespan. However, most men have both peripheral and visceral fat present especially those that work out, and there may be more peripheral than visceral fat present in such individuals. If so, they maybe suitable candidates for Vaser 4D Lipo.

before & after Vaser 4D Sculpt

Liposuction gets rid of peripheral fat very effectively and it is this fat which we sculpt in Vaser 4D Sculpting.  On the other hand, visceral fat cannot be treated with liposuction! The only way to get rid of visceral fat is through lifestyle changes. However, the good news is that visceral fat responds very well to lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. On the other hand, peripheral fat responds more slowly and that is why many people get frustrated when they can't lose more weight around their waistline despite shrinking the size of the tummies.



So what happens if you gain weight after liposuction?
After liposuction, there is a reduced amount of peripheral fat in the body. So when someone's lifestyle becomes more sedentary the body will lay down fat. But if there is no peripheral fat to absorb this extra fat, then the next place to take it is the internal visceral fat, inside the abdomen and thorax. This is very unhealthy for reasons explained above. The other areas which may grow are areas of untreated peripheral fat such as the buttocks or breasts. So if someone does put on weight after Vaser, they may get bigger buttocks or breasts or their tummies may swell.

This is why any form of liposuction should NOT be used as a weight loss alternative but more of a option for getting rid of stubborn areas in patients who are only slightly overweight. Vaser 4D Sculpt can be used to treat patients who were previously considered to be too slim for traditional liposuction and this has opened up sculpting possibilities for a whole new population.

If you need more Vaser Lipo information contact our friendly team on 01582 762 877 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.

Male Breast Reduction with Vaser in the UK

Gynecomastia reduction is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures requested by men in the UK. Many men have suffered since childhood and are embarrassed to take off their tops in front of others, such as on the beach, swimming pools or sometimes in front of new partners. Sufferers often carefully choose loose clothing to hide the shape of their breasts. For many men, the condition is not responsive to diet or exercise and so the only alternative is surgery. Previously, the only option was quite a traumatic procedure with a long recovery. Vaser liposuction is a much gentler treatment option with many men returning to work in just a couple of days.

Watch this video to see Dr Jain explain how a Vaser Lipo surgery is performed to treat gynecomastia. This video contains surgical footage.

Surgery is performed under a light anaesthesia called 'concious sedation' where you will have all the benefits of a general anaesthetic (i.e. absolutely no pain or memory of the event) but without the risks (i.e. you are breathing yourself and awake). Following treatment, you will need to wear a compression vest for 3 weeks 24/7 then another 3 weeks for 12 hours a day. Most men require simple painkillers such as paracetamol for about a week. Results are evident very quickly.

If you would like to book a consultation with one of our Vaser specialists call our clinic on 01582762877. Consultations are available in Harley St or Harpenden.

Can women have Vaser Hi Def?

Vaser Hi Def liposuction or even the more advanced Vaser 4D Sculpt, is not just for men. Women can also get sexy, hot bodies, we just recreate a different athletic look rather than a six pack. Six pack abs are a more masculine appearance so most women prefer a more streamlined abdomen with discreet diamond shape contours and shadows.

Abdomen treated only

Even though the abs are treated in a more gentle fashion than a male six pack, the female arms are treated in a more drastic fashion in that we tend to take away most of the fat over the triceps to create a less of a bingo wing with slight fashioning of the space between the deltoid and the biceps.

Vaser 4D Arms, courtesy Dr Alfredo Hoyos

Female Vaser Lipo is the most popular treatment we perform. We can also lift buttocks by moving the fat from love handles to the buttocks creating a Colombian Butt Lift. The inner and outer thighs can be refashioned in order to sculpt a complete hour glass shape.

So when you think Vaser 4D Sculpt, think Hot Sexy Bod rather than just six pack abs!

For more information on Vaser Lipo please fill out this enquiry form.

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.