VASER Hi-Def Technology

What is VASER High Definition Liposuction?

VASER High Definition Liposuction—most commonly referred to as VASER Hi-Def is an ingenious new liposuction procedure that allows plastic surgeons to literally sculpt the human form into a contoured and athletic work of art.

The Hi-Def technique is a revolution to the plastic surgery industry because of its combined advancements in technology, science, and art. The unbelievable results achieved with VHD have never before been seen after such a minimally invasive procedure.

VASER Hi-Def is an remarkable technique that has been taught to less than eighty plastic surgeons worldwide. Dr. Shapiro is the first—and only—surgeon in the state of Arizona who has been trained to perform this exclusive technique.

Despite its rarity, the Hi-Def technique was reported by the Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2007 and has been rising in popularity ever since. Today, thousands of procedures have been performed safely and with unbelievable results worldwide, even despite the very few surgeons who can perform it.

VASER Technology

VASER is the name of the machine that surgeons use to perform Hi-Def Liposuction.

VASER is an acronym that stands for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance. In short, VASER Hi-Def is an ultrasound assisted lipoplasty procedure (UAL). This means the surgeon uses tools (called probes) that direct ultrasonic waves of energy through fatty tissues to emulsify them before being suctioned away.

VASER was developed by Sound Surgical Technologies in Louisville, Colorado.

What makes VASER Hi-Def better than traditional lipo?

Safety – Anesthetics, Burns, and Implants
VASER Hi-Def can be performed on an out-patient basis using local anesthetics, so there is no risk of complications with general anesthesia. In larger cases, however, general anesthesia is recommended.

In past ultrasound lipoplasties, there was a high risk of burns and other skin complications. The development of the VASER tools (called probes when solid; cannulas when hollow) are so advanced from their predecessors that there is no longer any risk of burns or bruising. There is no risk of tools overheating during surgery and causing complications.

Any enhancements performed with VASER is done completely without implants, which can cause complications for patients. Instead, enhancements are done by re-injecting the patient's own emulsified fat from earlier in the procedure. This technique is a much safer and more natural than using silicone implants.

Fast Recovery Time
Recovery time after traditional liposuction is lengthy because of how inaccurate the procedure is. With traditional lipo, blood vessels, nerves, and important connective tissues are often destroyed while removing fat tissues. This is what causes pain, bruising, wrinkling in the skin, and a long recovery time.

VASER is different. Because the ultrasonic probes are specifically designed for liposculpture, they only emulsify fat tissues. The blood vessels and nerves are relatively undisturbed. Only that emulsified fat is suctioned away. Patients are usually back to normal in a week... in some cases, just a few days.

Unbelievable Results
The Hi-Def procedure is part art and part science. The surgeon understands the artistic basics of light and shadow so that he can sculpt in three-dimensions; he also has a highly trained eye for human aesthetics. Then, by understanding the anatomy of the different fat layers, he is able to literally sculpt the human form – much like Michelangelo sculpted his David centuries ago.

By sculpting out certain fats and leaving other fats, the underlying muscle is enhanced and its borders accentuated. Plus, because VASER requires only small incisions in inconspicuous areas, there is very little scarring post-operation.

History of Hi-Def

VASER Hi-Def Liposuction was first performed in Bogota, Colombia in 2002 by Dr. Alfredo E. Hoyos. As a plastic surgeon in Colombia he realized that the standard methods of liposuction could not give his patients—extremely body conscious South Americans—the athletic yet voluptuous curves they desired. So, taking his medical knowledge and artistic background, he developed a method that could give patients the results they wanted with minimal invasion and fast recovery.

Dr. Hoyos then instructed Dr. John Millard of Denver, Colorado. Dr. Millard brought the technique back to the United States in 2005. Today, thousands of Hi-Def procedures have been performed safely and with reproducible, unbelievable results throughout the world.

Dr. Shapiro and VASER

Dr. Shapiro was introduced to the VASER Hi-Def technique during a lecture given by Dr. Millard and his associates.

He was immediately hooked.

Astounded by the before-and-after results, he researched the technique and began correspondence with Dr. Hoyos and Dr. Millard. He was then invited to train with Dr. Hoyos himself in Colombia. He has since brought the VASER technique to Arizona.

Dr. Shapiro is one of seventy-five surgeons worldwide to be trained in VASER Hi-Def. He is one of seventeen in the United States. He is the first—and only—surgeon performing VASER Hi-Def in the state of Arizona. Dr. Shapiro is proud to offer this advanced technique to his patients in Scottsdale, Arizona and surrounding areas.

Who is a candidate for VASER Hi-Def?

Traditional liposuction is useful mostly for reducing the volume—or “de-bulking”—of patients that are quite overweight. Patients who undergo traditional liposuction will indeed be smaller, yet they will not see muscular definition.

VASER Hi-Def is meant for those who are in decent shape to those who are moderately overweight. It is especially for those who have difficulty seeing real muscular definition, despite a rigorous exercise and diet program. It is not meant for very overweight or obese people.

How Exactly Does it Work?

Though the technique itself requires intensive study and training, the concept behind VASER Hi-Def is not difficult to understand.

Going further in the fat anatomy
Traditional liposuction is only performed in the deep layers of fat. Deep fat is where the “bulk” is stored. VASER technology has allowed surgeons to explore liposculpture in the superficial layer of fat. Superficial fat is located directly beneath the skin. In previous traditional lipo, this area would never have been touched. Hi-Def really takes place in the superficial layer of fat, just below the skin.

Pre-suction emulsification with VASER
VASER Hi-Def has one more step than traditional liposuction. Before the surgeon suctions away the fat tissues, he first melts it using the Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance. This makes the liposuction less traumatic for the patient and easier for the surgeon.

The targeted emulsification leaves blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues intact for faster healing, less bruising, and better skin retraction.

Liposuction
Once the proper fats have been melted using VASER, the surgeon suctions away the bulk of the fat. His aesthetic eye helps him decide where to remove fat and where to leave it. The VASER allows him to move to the superficial layer where he can unveil muscular definition and artistically create specific body contours where previously there were none. In some places, he will leave fat to add volume; in others, he will do extra suction to create a depression, further enhancing the volume he just created.

Skin retraction
Because the VASER leaves elastic skin tissues intact, the skin retracts like shrink wrap over the top of the new muscle contours. This gives superior definition to the contours the surgeon has just created, for tighter, more attractive results.