Over the past 20 years of my surgery practice, I have been asked many times by my women patients undergoing abdominal surgery, “Can you take some of this off while you’re at it?” Of course, they are jokingly referring to those abdominal fat rolls that seem to persist in all of us despite weight loss, diet and exercise. Before, I would reluctantly tell them to see a plastic surgeon for liposuction or a tummy tuck (requiring general anesthesia and costing upwards of $8,000). 

Now there is an in-office or outpatient option done under local anesthesia for about half the cost. Vaser® Lipo, a form of liposuction, is safer and less traumatic due to the use of the patented Vaser® ultrasound probes which literally melt away subcutaneous fat. Slow to be adopted by plastic surgeons, it is more often done by specially trained dermatologists and general surgeons.

Most importantly, there is significantly less blood loss with the Vaser® ultrasound, as it causes less trauma to the normal tissue. Studies have shown that about 30 percent of the fluid removed in standard liposuction is blood, while in Vaser® Lipo it is only about 10 percent. Another factor making this a less risky option is the use of local tumescent anesthesia and oral sedation instead of a general anesthesia. Patients can literally walk in, have the procedure, and walk out. 

The amount of fat of that can be safely removed in    Vaser® Lipo is about three liters, whereas regular liposuction can remove up to five liters. The main side effects are soreness and numbness subsiding in two to three weeks. However, patients are usually able to get moving and even back to work in just a few days. 

Another important difference between Vaser® Lipo and regular liposuction is the amount of skin retraction and tightening seen in weeks following the procedure.  Although there is a limit to the size of fat rolls that can be reduced, even those at the upper limit will see a dramatic retraction and decrease over time. Patients obtain the best result by wearing a fitted body suit for several weeks—as the longer the patient wears it, the better the result. The most common areas of the body that are done are the upper and lower abdomen and flanks (love handles), which can usually be done all at the same time. Other common areas are the hips (saddlebags) inner thighs, back, upper arms and neck. Now when patients point to those stubborn abdominal fat rolls and ask me if I can remove them, I say “Yes!” 

Michael E. Foster, M.D., graduated from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, School of Medicine in 1983. He completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. He is a board-certified general surgeon with 21 years in private practice. He has developed an interest in aesthetics to help meet his patients’ wants and needs.