Hello Dr. Amron,

I've gone for several consults over the last two years and the "excellent" results always seemed very obviously uneven and sometimes lumpy. I fully understand that these are some of the risks, but considering the investment, I hoped that it would be in a small percentage of patients.

I've looked for doctors in New England and the mid-Atlantic states yet I've only found one I have full confidence in. He uses the Vaser technique and his results are smooth. He's also a Park Avenue surgeon so his prices are far higher than any I've heard from recent patients who had the procedure done elsewhere. The two surgeons I like the most are in Colorado and Oregon. It presents several challenges with follow up. They also use the Vaser technique.

I e-mailed patients who did the Vaser and they seemed to have less bruising and pain than those who had tumescent. Though there's a smaller sample, they also seem to be more satisfied with their results. I'm not too concerned with overall trends. My major concern is for my results. Is it that the surgeons who I've found are just better at it than others? Or does the technique itself make a difference?

Dear Daria1983,

The Vaser technique is a newer version of ultrasonic liposuction. This goes back to the whole question about what is really important with regards to getting a good result with liposuction. I strongly feel that it is really the skills, judgment and artistry of the surgeon that is important, rather than exactly what technique is used.

It is my experience that there really have not been any new procedures that have made a significant advance in achieving a great result with liposuction. Like me, most of the experts in the country have not adopted many of these newer techniques for specific reasons.

However, you have friends or people you know have had good results with this technique, that’s great. But once again, I strongly feel that it’s not about the technique itself, it’s about the artistry, creativity and judgment of the surgeon.

With many of these newer technologies such as Vaser, the hand pieces that are used don’t allow me to contour and sculpt as meticulously as I would during a traditional liposuction procedure. I lose much of the tactile feeling that is important in liposuction to getting the best result.

So that’s my opinion about Vaser and this would also fall into the territory of part of my opinions about SmartLipo, which is using a laser to help to emulsify the fat underneath the skin.

When liposuction is done correctly in the more traditional way, the skin tightens and the result is beautiful and smooth. If it’s not done poorly, regardless of this technology, a poor result will result.

Dr. Amron

DrAmron wrote:Dear Daria1983,
When liposuction is done correctly in the more traditional way, the skin tightens and the result is beautiful and smooth. If it’s not done poorly, regardless of this technology, a poor result will result.

Dr. Amron

Thank you for your response. I suppose the plastic surgeons --and there aren't nearly as many as one would expect-- here focus far more on reconstruction and less on cosmetic work.