Liposuction

Liposuction, or one of its related terms, including liposculpture, lipoplasty, lipocountouring etc, is a popular procedure in many parts of the world. This is for the simple reason that it is able to “sculpt” or shape the body.

There are many different types of liposuction, and all have varying applications, results and side effects.

In Singapore, the most common procedure performed is Vaser, or ultrasound assisted liposuction. If the history of liposuction is understood, then one will understand why new techniques like Vaser are preferred for their safety and lesser incidence of side effects. As an example of a new generation liposuction technique, Vaser utilizes ultrasound to selectively liquefy fats without damaging surrounding nerves and vessels, producing less collateral damage than traditional liposuction techniques.

In addition, because latest techniques are becoming less and less invasive, liposuction has gradually evolved from an inpatient procedure to increasingly being done in the ambulatory/day surgery setting. This minimizing of downtime has made liposuction an increasingly popular procedure.

High Definition Sculpting

In addition to traditional liposuction which usually aims to reduce fat bulk, there are new applications to liposuction, such as Vaser Hi-Def sculpting. Vaser® – Assisted High Definition LipoSculpture, or Vaser Hi Def™, 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, Vaser Hi Def takes into account the shape and form of structures underneath the skin that create body contours. 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. The procedure can be performed on multiple body areas including the abdomen, female breast, male chest, back, arms, thighs, buttocks, hips and waist.

There are newer techniques on the horizon such as water jet assisted liposuction, which hold promise. However, patients should always be wary of latest techniques which do not yet have extensive track records and are not completely understood by the medical profession, or are still under study having been in the market for relatively short times.

It is important to remember that liposuction is not a procedure to lose weight, rather, it is used more as a part of a complete weight loss programme to address difficult to treat areas which are resistant to non-surgical weight loss methods.