Toledo VASER® LipoSelection for safe, effective fat removal.

What is LipoSelection© by VASER®?

LipoSelection, only by VASER®, combines patented technologies with advanced surgical techniques to sculpt the body and remove unwanted fat deposits. The LipoSelection procedure uses ultrasonic energy to break up fat while leaving surrounding tissue—such as nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue relatively intact. For men and women in Toledo, VASER® LipoSelection can offer the outcomes they desire.

Why LipoSelection? Is the LipoSelection procedure different than traditional liposuction?

LipoSelection is a new and very different way to precisely and efficiently remove unwanted fat. An alternative to the harsh techniques of traditional liposuction, VASER® LipoSelection uses state-of-the-art ultrasound technology to first liquefy and then remove fat from the body, which is why it provides such smooth, predictable results. Since it is more tissue-selective than traditional liposuction, patients report low-to-minimal pain and low-to-minimal swelling and bruising.

How is LipoSelection different from other Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty (UAL) technologies?

Although these technologies all employ ultrasonic energy, other UAL systems use earlier-generation equipment. These other techniques use either hollow probes that fragment fat while simultaneously removing protective fluid (which can increase the risk of thermal damage such as burns) or smooth probes that focus all of the energy at the tip (which can damage the tissue matrix). Only the LipoSelection procedure uses VASER® technology to efficiently break up fat with diffused energy via small, solid, grooved probes and then removes the liquefied fat with cannulas designed to minimize tissue trauma. An independent peer-reviewed study reported that patients treated with VASER® LipoSelection experienced none of the complications common to UAL, as reported in medical literature (such as burns, prolonged swelling, abnormal sensations, or skin cell degradation).

How does VASER® LipoSelection work?

High-frequency sound energy emitted by the VASER® System breaks up fat on contact while leaving surrounding tissues relatively intact. The fragmented fat flows into the wetting solution and is extracted with gentle suction. This process results in smooth, predictable outcomes.

How much fat can be removed?

There are limits to how much fatty tissue can be safely taken from the body. One way to get a good idea is to stand and bend from the waist. The amount of “loose-hanging” fat you can easily grab above or below your waist will approximate what can be removed. Bear in mind that this procedure is not intended as a weight-loss solution. The goal is to create a slimmer silhouette. You may not notice a significant amount of weight loss, but should be pleased with your slimmer new shape.

Frequently Asked Questions

What body areas can be treated with VASER® LipoSelection?

Doctors have experienced great success in treating all of the following areas: abdomen, thighs, knees, buttocks, hips, back, arms, male breasts, love handles, chin, and neck.

What happens during the LipoSelection procedure?

First, the area to be sculpted is filled with a tumescent saline solution that helps numb the site and shrink the blood vessels, which minimizes blood loss and reduces bruising. This solution wets and fills the area to be treated, making the fat easier to break up with the VASER® System’s sound energy. Then a small probe transmits sound energy (similar to that used for cataract removal in the eye). The sound energy breaks up fat on contact, leaving other important tissues relatively intact. Finally, gentle suction removes the emulsified fat quickly.

Where is your Toledo LipoSelection performed?

VASER® LipoSelection is performed in a clean environment. Some possible options are at your doctor’s office, in an outpatient surgery center, or in a hospital.

What type of results can I expect?

The ultrasonic technology used for the LipoSelection procedure breaks up fatty tissue while leaving other important tissues relatively intact. As a result, treatment with the VASER® System has been reported to result in smooth contouring and low incidence of complications*, such as prolonged swelling, loss of sensation, or prolonged numbing, blood clots, bruising, blister-like spots called seromas, and skin discoloration.

What’s the advantage of general vs. local anesthesia? Office vs. hospital procedure?

Some individuals find the thought of any surgery very disturbing. In a hospital, under general anesthesia, you are unaware of what is happening because you are asleep and awaken post-operatively. This method of anesthesia may be preferable if you are having a large amount of fat removed or having multiple sites treated. Some individuals find general anesthesia intimidating, preferring to remain awake under local anesthesia, perhaps accompanied by IV sedation. If the treatment is not too extensive, this may be a viable option. For still others, the convenience and familiarity of their doctor’s office allows for maximum comfort and privacy, provided the surgery is not too extensive. Here, under local anesthesia, perhaps accompanied by a sedative, patients experience minimal discomfort while remaining awake but relaxed.

What’s in the infusion fluid? Isn’t lidocaine dangerous?

A saline solution is injected to “loosen up” the fatty tissue. This solution includes diluted amounts of a blood constrictor (epinephrine) to reduce bleeding and bruising and an anesthetic numbing agent (lidocaine). The amount of lidocaine is carefully monitored and administered to avoid toxicity issues. If this is a serious concern, you should definitely discuss it with the doctor before you make your decision to proceed.

What is my anticipated recovery time?

This varies with the extensiveness of the procedure—the amount of fat removed, the number of sites treated, and so on. It is important that you establish realistic expectations through discussion with your doctor.

What about future weight gain or fat migrating to other areas?

This is a common misconception. When you experience weight gain or loss, it tends to be distributed proportionately over your entire body. Following your LipoSelection procedure, your fat in specific areas is removed. It is gone and, assuming you maintain a healthy lifestyle with a proper diet and exercise, it will not return or migrate. Because fat is necessary to a healthy body, however, some essential fat layers in any given site remain untreated. If you do gain a significant amount of weight, the remaining fatty tissue will expand to accommodate it. Normal aging changes can also be expected.

Will VASER® LipoSelection eliminate my cellulite?

“Cellulite” is a term used to describe a specific look of fat in the skin overlying certain areas of the body (often described as “orange peel” or “cottage cheese skin”). As we age, almost all of us develop some cellulite. There is currently no curative “fix” for cellulite.

How can I be certain LipoSelection is right for me?

If you are frustrated by the resistance of certain body areas to diet and exercise, VASER® LipoSelection could provide a solution. If you are healthy and seeking a fast, low-pain* solution to losing stubborn fat deposits, your Toledo LipoSelection procedure might be your answer. Only your board certified plastic surgeon can tell you if VASER® LipoSelection is right for you. Although there are limits to the amount of fat that can be removed, your doctor can help you determine potential areas for sculpting, explain the anticipated results, and describe the recovery process.

How much does it cost? Why pay more?

As with other plastic surgery procedures, costs can vary among surgeons, but the price depends on the specific nature of the treatment (the location of fat pocket, the number of treatment sites, the extensiveness of treatment, etc.). “Why pay more?” is a question you have to answer for yourself. After talking with a number of potential patients, we have found that most would readily pay a few hundred dollars more to obtain the benefits of the LipoSelection procedure.

May I speak with a patient who has had the LipoSelection procedure?

We would be happy to facilitate that for you. Many of our Toledo VASER® LipoSelection patients are so pleased with the results of their LipoSelection procedure that they have volunteered to talk about their experience.

* In an independent peer-reviewed published study ["Clinical Application of VASER-Assisted Lipoplasty: A Pilot Clinical Study" (2002, March); Aesthetic Surgery Journal 22 (2), 131–146], three prominent plastic surgeons who treated 77 patients with the VASER® System reported low-to-minimal post-operative pain, bruising and swelling, as well as no complications, no required re-treatments, and both patient and surgeon satisfaction.