What is VASERLipo?
VASERLipo™ is a revolutionary technique for removing unwanted fat pockets from various parts of the body. This form of liposuction can also reduce the appearance of cellulite. Unlike traditional techniques used in other practices, VASERLipo targets fat cells without damaging surrounding tissue. This targeted and less aggressive approach is more precise, gets exceptionally smooth and shapely outcomes, and has a much faster recovery time.
How is VASERLipo Performed at West End Plastic Surgery?
VASERLipo Target Areas
Some areas of the body are better suited for Liposuction than others. VASERLipo provides precise results so even delicate areas such as the face can be successfully enhanced. The most common regions for VASERLipo include:
- Abdomen
- Arms
- Back
- Chin
- Hips
- Knees
- Neck
- Outer thighs
We’re as thrilled with our patients’ results as they are. Check out our before-and-after photo gallery and see for yourself the kind of work our talented surgeons do.
Who is a Good Candidate for Liposuction with VASERLipo?
An ideal candidate for VASERLipo is within 10 to 15% of his or her target body weight, exercises regularly, eats a healthy diet, and has fat deposits or areas of cellulite that have been resistant to dieting and exercise.
How is VASERLipo Liposuction Performed?
Prior to scheduling your VASERLipo procedure, patients will meet at length with Dr. Ruff and his team at West End Plastic Surgery. He will discuss whether the procedure is right for you, answer any questions you may have, and detail the risks of surgery. Additionally, Dr. Ruff will evaluate any areas you would like to improve and discuss how you want these areas to look after surgery. Patients will need to provide their medical history and a list of medications they are currently taking. This includes aspirin, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Your liposuction procedure will be performed in our state-of-the-art surgical suite or at one of the area hospitals where our surgeons operate. They have the top technology and special training required to perform this simple and relatively painless procedure that can give you the body you desire. In most cases, local anesthesia with deep sedation can be used. Depending on the extent of the treatment areas surgery can take from 1 to 5 hours.
To begin the procedure, Dr. Ruff will make a tiny incision in the treatment area. Unlike traditional liposuction, the incisions for VASERLipo are extremely small and heal very quickly. Next, he will inject a special saline solution that helps numb the site and shrink blood vessels. Then, Dr. Ruff will insert a very thin device that emits ultrasonic waves into the incision area. The sound wave energy precisely breaks down the structure of the targeted fat cells into liquid form. The ultrasound energy bounces off vital tissues leaving them virtually undisturbed.
Once all the targeted fat cells have become liquid, Dr. Ruff will insert a small cannula and gently move it around to remove the liquid. Because VASERLipo uses refined ultrasound technology, there isn’t the immediate swelling that occurs with liposuction, allowing Dr. Ruff to precisely sculpt the treatment areas. This less aggressive approach creates surgical outcomes that are closer to ideal results than traditional liposuction. Finally, our staff will use stitches to close the incisions and apply gauze dressings, tape, and compression garments over the surgical area.
Recovery after Liposuction with VASERLipo
In most cases, VASERLipo surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. You can typically go home shortly after your surgery is complete but the use of anesthesia requires that you do not drive home. Pain medication will be prescribed to alleviate as much post-surgery pain as possible. In most cases, you can remove the dressings over your incision the day after your surgery and can shower as soon as you feel comfortable.
Everyone heals at different rates, and you are the best judge of when you are ready for certain activities. Patients often resume all normal activities within 2 to 3 weeks of surgery as the swelling and bruising subside. Walking every day promotes fast healing so patients can drive once they are comfortable and return to work within a week. After about 6 weeks patients can return to their exercise routines. Scars will require the most healing time and should be hidden from the sun for at least a year.
| Shower or Bath | Day After Surgery |
| Back to Work | 2 to 3 Days After Surgery |
| Driving | As Soon as You Feel Comfortable |
| Normal Activities | As Soon as You Feel Comfortable |
| Fading of Scars | Several Months to 1 Year |
| Final Contour | 3 to 6 Months |
What Results should I expect after Liposuction using VASERLipo?
With VASERLipo, you finally have a simple and relatively painless way to reshape areas of your body that have collected excess fat deposits. Although there are limits to the amount of tissue that can be removed, in most cases you can achieve the results you desire. These results last for several years as the fat cells in the treatment area are permanently removed. A healthy lifestyle, regular exercise program, and maintaining an appropriate weight keep your body in the best shape possible.
What Our Patients Have to Say
"5 Stars!! I will start by saying that Dr. Ruff deserves these 5 stars. After getting married I gained some love weight. By love weight I mean I went from 145lbs to 225lbs. Needless to say I had a huge stomach. My self‐confidence was hit hard since my whole life I was pretty slim. I expressed my concern to my primary doctor and he referred me to Dr. Ruff. I was very nervous since I had never had any other surgery. I went in for my consultation with Dr. Ruff and immediately felt very comfortable. He is very knowledgeable and his staff is great. They are like a family. After my consultation I made my appointment to get liposuction on my mid‐section and flanks. I am a full time student so I was a little concerned about recovery. I did not want to miss school so I had the procedure done during spring break. The procedure was completed right in the office and I ended up getting a room at the hotel across the street for my follow up the next day. The whole experience was very seamless. I came in with reasonable expectations of results but I have been blown away. It has now been about 4 months after the procedure and I have lost over 50 lbs. (still losing weight). My waist shrunk from a 38 to a 32 and 32 is a little big. My body couture is amazing. I see muscles I haven't seen in a while. Everybody is amazed at how great I look. They even say they can notice it in my face and arms. I always respond I didn't have anything done there. lol. Needless to say the procedure was SUPER worth it. I haven't really been exercising as I should but I do watch what I eat now. I am writing this because if you are thinking about getting liposuction done then definitely go see Dr. Ruff for a consultation. He is the BEST! I am now always without a shirt and my confidence is back. Thank you Dr. Ruff and team for a seamlessly pleasant experience and a boost of confidence I needed!" - Gerald P.
What is Vibrasat?
Vibrasat is power-assisted liposuction featuring the industry’s most technologically advanced device, the Vibrasat Pro. During a Vibrasat liposuction procedure, the tip of the cannula vibrates. When this cannula is inserted under the skin to remove the unwanted pockets of fat the vibrations disrupt the fat cells, making it easier to remove the fatty deposits in less time. Another benefit of the vibrating tip is that navigating through the dense tissue under the skin is easier and can be done with greater precision than with traditional liposuction.
What are the benefits of using power-assisted liposuction for body contouring?
Ever since it was developed in France in the 1970s and 80s, liposuction has been one of the world’s most popular cosmetic surgeries every year. The popularity has only grown with the ongoing improvements in technology, such as adding ultrasound energy to the process (VASERLipo) and vibration power assist (Vibrasat). Laser energy is also added, but we don’t use that technique at West End Plastic Surgery.
When compared to laser-assisted liposuction, Vibrasat doesn’t generate any heat, so there isn’t any risk of damaging the tissues adjacent to the fat cells. Power-assisted liposuction also allows our surgeons to remove fat more quickly with less trauma, particularly when compared to traditional tumescent liposuction. Because the power-assisted cannula with Vibrasat doesn’t have to be moved back and forth aggressively to break loose the fat cells (the vibration energy does this instead), there is far less bruising and blood loss for our patients when using this method. Finally, adding the vibration power to the cannula enables more precision when removing fat, creating smoother, more sculpted results.
What is the difference between Vibrasat and VASERLipo?
These are both liposuction methods that improve upon “traditional” liposuction. The difference is the additional energy delivered to the target areas. In Vibrasat power-assisted liposuction, the cannula tip vibrates. When inserted under the skin in the treatment area, these vibrations break up the fat pockets, making them easier to remove.
VASERLipo is ultrasound-assisted liposuction. With VASERLipo, an ultra-thin device is inserted after the tumescent solution is injected. This device emits ultrasonic energy waves under the skin. This energy breaks down the structure of the targeted fat cells, liquefying them. Once the area has been treated, a small cannula is inserted through the same small incision to suction out the liquefied fat cells and much of the tumescent solution.
How is Vibrasat power-assisted liposuction performed?
The procedure begins, as does any form of tumescent liposuction, with the injection of the tumescent solution under the skin. This solution is a mixture of sterile saline water, epinephrine, and lidocaine. The saline swells the area; the epinephrine constricts the blood vessels (creating less bruising and blood loss) and fat cells; and the lidocaine provides local anesthetic directly where it’s needed.
Next, through the same small incision, the Vibrasat cannula is inserted. The cannula tip vibrates at a constant rate of 5,000 strokes per minute, with movement of 2.8 mm. The tip has a power boost function for thicker pockets of fat, where the strokes can be increased to 6,000 strokes per minute for brief periods.
These vibrations speed up the breakdown of the fat cells in the target area. This disruption makes it easier to remove the fatty deposits in less time. The vibrating tip also makes it easier to navigate through dense tissue.
The cannula suctions away the unwanted fat cells along with most of the tumescent solution and any other fluids. When the area is sculpted to the desired amount, the cannula is removed, and the procedure is finished. Sutures usually aren’t necessary to close the incision or incisions; Steri-Strips are usually all that’s needed.
How long does a Vibrasat power-assisted liposuction procedure take?
These procedures with our West End Plastic Surgery team take approximately one to three hours. As you would assume, the duration is dependent upon the area or areas being targeted.
Potential Risks of Liposuction
As with all surgical procedures, there are side effects associated with VASERLipo surgery. However, you can help reduce the side effects by closely following the pre and post surgery instructions we provide you. Dr. Ruff and our team will be with you every step of the way to ensure a safe and pleasing outcome. Some possible side effects include:
- Changes in asymmetry of the surgical area
- Infection
- Scarring
- Temporary loss of sensation
- Wavy or irregular skin contours
How long after any liposuction procedure will I see my results?
At West End Plastic Surgery, we take pride in providing liposuction options that create less tissue trauma and bruising, require smaller incisions, and make for easier overall recoveries. After any of our liposuction procedures, you’ll initially have compression bandages over the treated area.
Those will be replaced relatively quickly with compression garments once your bandages are removed.
Compression garments have a couple purposes for our liposuction patients. First, they help to minimize swelling and subsequent bruising. Second, they help the outer tissues slim down and tighten over your slimmer contours without the underlying fat.
So, while you’ll instantly see a difference with your areas addressed with liposuction, you’ll need to wait a few weeks to see your results once your swelling fully subsides. For the nuances created with your slimmer contours, you will need as much as three or four months to fully see your final results.
How much weight can you lose with a liposuction procedure?
At West End Plastic Surgery, we require our liposuction patients to be within 10 to 15 percent of their ideal body weight. That’s because liposuction isn’t a weight-loss procedure; it’s a body contouring procedure. Liposuction is meant to remove stubborn pockets of fat that don’t respond to changes in diet and exercise. It’s actually dangerous to remove too much fat in a single liposuction session.
CoolSculpting: Non-Surgical Alternative for Liposuction
Do you have stubborn fat and you aren’t ready to have Liposuction? West End Plastic Surgery offers CoolSculpting, a non-surgical alternative that freezes away fat.
The results achieved with CoolSculpting and Liposuction are similar - both treatments eliminate stubborn fat from various parts of the body. Specifically, CoolSculpting stimulates the natural elimination of fat without having surgery; liposuction extracts fat through a small tube.
Since CoolSculpting is not a surgical procedure, it doesn’t involve incisions or the insertion of a surgical instrument beneath the skin, therefore bruising and swelling are uncommon.
However, if you do go with CoolSculpting, multiple treatments would be needed to meet your desired outcome. During your consultation at West End Plastic Surgery, our team will review this in detail and discuss a treatment plan that best fits your needs.
Does Insurance Cover Liposuction Surgery?
VASERLipo Selection surgery is considered cosmetic surgery and, therefore, is not covered by insurance. You are responsible for the full payment of the procedure. Cost and payment information will be fully discussed with you during your initial consultation.
Schedule a Consultation for Lipo in DC or Ask Questions
Dr. Paul G. Ruff IV, FACS of West End Plastic Surgery is one of the first plastic surgeons certified to perform this advanced type of liposuction in the Washington, D.C. area. If you want to learn more about VASERLipo, request a consultation online or call our office at 202-785-4187 and a member of our knowledgeable staff will schedule a consultation.
