VAL - VASER-assisted
liposuction is the third generation of ultra sound systems. The smart
machine is from the USA. Like laser technology, it is equipped with
microvibrations (pulsed ultrasonic energy delivery). It was tested by three
renowned plastic surgeons from the USA and from Brazil and did not show any
complications. The ultrasound probes are half as thin as the conventional
ones. Thus the opening cuts could be reduced (3-4 mm). The device radiates
less energy while improving the effect on destroying the fat cell membranes,
or emulsifying the fat tissue respectively. This way any significant
complication could be excluded.
The French ultrasound system caused such disastrous results with burns in
the 1980ies that, until today, ultrasound is illegal in France. The Italian
SMEI machine was the first generation device. Its function was to extract
the white, fluid fat which to a large extent helped avoiding unpleasant "blue
bruises". Yet the plastic protection shield measured 1cm and the opening
cuts were correspondingly wide. The second generation devices were supposed
to sound and suck at the same time which had not proved to be fully
successful. Excessive ultrasound energy caused most of the surgical
complications.
In 1998, Peter Bela Fodor from L.A. presented a "wishlist" to ultra sound
technology expert Bill Cimino for a new device: increase in safety and
effectiveness, decrease in complications and a faster healing process. At
Sound Surgical Technologies LLC company Cimino eventually developed the
VASER system. Clinical tests were conducted by M. L. Jewell, P. B. Fodor and
E. B. de Souza Pinto
Fodor from the USA and de Souza Pinto from Brazil are known to be the top
authorities in plastic surgery worldwide. Recently they officially published
their results of their pilot study in the "Aesthetic Surgery Journal". The
authors have compared 93 relevant articles that have appeared in scientific
journals since 1980. They found that first and second generation ultrasound
devices had caused 7,9%, or 4,9% respectively, of all complications. By
contrast, the VASER system did not show any complications in the study.
Although caution must be taken: all authors are top surgeons. In less
professional hands, one or another complication can creep in.
We tested the VASER device three times in Bonn in 2002, once in comparison
to the Italian device. Those fat problem zones that were treated with the
VASER device caused less post-operation pain on the same patients. The
Private Clinic Nofretete in Bonn is the first in Germany, the second in
Europe to use this device in everyday clinical routine. The application of
this system is more friendly both to the patient and to the surgeon. The
handle with the probe is less heavy and thinner. There is thus lower
resistance of the tissue. Since less energy is uselessly radiated, there is
less collateral damage to the tissue. It takes only one minute of "sounding"
for 100ml of tumescence fluid which shortens the operation time in general.
The instilled fluid is measured in millimeters, the ultrasound duration is
given in seconds. This allows for absolute precision in the case of
symmetrical use. The only disadvantage of the magic device: it costs around
$ 40.000.
Conclusion: Liposuction becomes softer and even less risky; and it also
becomes even more popular - although it is already the most frequent
aesthetic operation worldwide (compare: the
ISAPS-Statistics
in this "Aesthetic News" edition).
More examples
