Dr. Brian Hurley runs Illumination MedSpa in Irmo, South Carolina. Here, he explains the difference between Vaser Lipo and Lipotherme, two alternatives to traditional liposuction.
Vaser Lipo is an advanced body-contouring procedure that selectively removes unwanted body fat. An alternative to the harsh techniques of traditional liposuction, Vaser Lipo uses state-of-the-art ultrasound technology to gently reshape your body. What distinguishes the Vaser Lipo procedure is its ability to differentiate targeted fat from other important tissues, such as nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The innovative Vaser technology breaks up fat while preserving these other tissues, promoting smooth results and rapid healing.
Vaser Lipo is similar to Lipotherme, which is a non-surgical procedure that uses a laser to liquefy and remove unwanted fat in targeted body zones. But while Lipotherme uses laser energy to emulsify the fat before suctioning, Vaser Lipo uses ultrasound. Also, while Lipotherme’s thermal effect tightens the skin, Vaser Lipo leads to skin retraction, but does not actually tighten the skin. Many physicians, including myself, combine a Vaser Lipo procedure with Lipotherme to achieve that skin-tightening effect.
The best candidates for the Vaser Lipo treatment are men and women who are close to their ideal body mass index (BMI). However, it can also be used on those who are a little overweight. In this case, Vaser Lipo is recommended over Lipotherme.
In general, with any form of liposuction — whether traditional or minimally invasive — weight gain tends to be more disproportionate afterward. Although some fat is left in the treated areas, most of the regained weight tends to occur in the untreated areas. And remember, no body-sculpting treatment (Lipo-Ex, Vaser Lipo, Lipotherme) can substitute healthy lifestyle habits.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
