VASER® – Assisted High Definition LipoSculpture (VAHDL)
Am I a good candidate for VADHL?
Risks and Potential Complications
VASER® – Assisted High Definition LipoSculpture, or VAHDL, is an advanced body sculpting technique.
The procedure creates a sculpted, athletic appearance in males and females by precisely removing both superficial and deep fat around muscle groups in order to enhance the visibility of the underlying musculature. Similar to 3-dimensional sculpting, VAHDL takes into account the shape and form of structures underneath the skin that create body contours. VAHDL is performed using the VASER Lipo System to selectively sculpt and remove fat in the desired treatment area. VAHDL can be performed on multiple body areas including the abdomen, female breast, male chest, back, arms, thighs, buttocks, hips and waist.
Am I a good candidate for VAHDL?
VAHDL is designed to be a sculpting procedure rather than a debulking technique. Therefore, the procedure is intended for generally fit men and women
who have good muscle tone without excessive amounts of fat or excess skin. The typical patient maintains a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise, but is unable to achieve the desired definition.
Ideal candidates for VAHDL are:
- Adults within 30% of their ideal weight who have firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone
- Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
- Non-smokers
- Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for body contouring
VAHDL involves the injection of a large volume of a special saline fluid, like the kind used in tumescent liposuction into the area being treated. The solution contains a local anesthetic and adrenaline which helps to numb the site and shrink the blood vessels. Since the tumescent solution that is injected contains an anesthetic, you may remain awake during the VAHDL procedure and can actually monitor the process.
Next, your plastic surgeon creates a small incision and inserts an instrument (called a cannula) through the areas of fat. The cannula emits ultrasound energy that explodes the fat cell wall and emulsifies the fat. The liquefied fat is then suctioned out in the traditional liposuction technique. However, this suction process is less damaging to the surrounding tissue vs. traditional liposuction due to the fact the fat is in a fluid from.
VAHDL causes minimal swelling and bruising and recovery is faster than with traditional liposuction. Although some people will see an immediate improvement, your skin will continue to shrink as the healing progresses and swelling subsides. Full benefits may take up to two months.
The harvested fat can be treated and carefully re-injected into other areas to augment your breasts or enhance your cheeks and lips, without fear of rejection or allergic reaction.
The VAHDL procedure varies between 1 and 3 hours, depending upon how much work is to be done in various areas of the body.
After surgery, you will likely experience some fluid drainage from the incisions. You are strongly advised to wear special compression garments to reduce swelling, increase comfort, aid healing and for optimal results. These garments will be supplied by Perfect Enhancement when you arrive in Malaysia. Your Surgeon may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.
Healing is a gradual process; you will probably be advised to start walking around as soon as possible to reduce swelling and prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. You will begin to feel better after about a week or so and you should be back at work within a few days following your surgery. The stitches are removed or dissolve on their own within the first week to ten days.
You will generally be able to begin resumption of your normal activities in two to three weeks. Patients are back to work in 3-6 days. Each case is different and the plastic surgeon will discuss your specific recovery thoroughly with you.
Risks and Potential Complications
The risks of VAHDL are very similar to the LipoSelection or liposuction risks . However, because VAHDL minimizes damage to other body tissues, patients typically experience less pain and fewer side effects than with other forms of liposuction. Serious liposuction complications are quite rare. Fat clots or blood clots may form, and there is a chance these will migrate to the lungs and cause serious illness. The fluid loss that results from liposuction will be anticipated by a qualified doctor, as it can cause low blood pressure, friction burns, or fluid buildup. The VASER probe’s ultrasound energy may injure the skin or deeper tissues, although in most cases the benefits of the ultrasound system make it safer than traditional liposuction. If a surgeon inexperienced with the VAHDL procedure applies too much fluid, the wetting solution may collect in the lungs. If there is too much lidocaine in the liposuction solution, lidocaine toxicity may develop. Dr Heng, one of our surgeons, is one of the few properly trained and qualified surgeons to perform this procedure in Malaysia.
