Simply Aesthetic Clinic – Singapore – Dr Christine Cheng

Both Waterjet (WAL) and VASER are modern liposuction techniques, but the principles are totally different.

VASER is a 3 staged process:

• Tumescence: local anaesthetic solution is used for tissue engorgement which makes liposuction easier and safer
• VASER mode: ultrasound melts fat
• Suction: melted fat is sucked out

The duration of VASER mode is determined prior, so there can potentially be excessive or inadequate. With inadequate VASER melting, the fat does not come out so easily, so additional VASERing may be required to reduce tissue trauma. If excessive VASERing has been done, the risks would be a concavity in the contour.

VASER is selective for fat, so damage to blood vessels and nerves is reduced, hence the term liposelection.

VASER has the advantage of skin firming (in the region of 10-15%) as the ultrasound causes tissue heating. However, this can also cause skin burns.

The recovery from VASER takes 3-6 months.

Waterjet Liposuction on the other hand is a 2 staged process:

1. Infiltration with enough local anaesthetic solution for tissue numbing, no engorgement required (so no tissue distortion, much more accurate contouring)
2. Aspiration: the waterjet dislodges fat and the dissolved fat is immediately sucked away

WAL allows accurate contouring based on immediately visible results as opposed to a time-based estimation. The power of the jet can be altered based on the thickness of the fat and how hard it is.

The technique is also selective towards fat, with little trauma to the blood vessels and nerves. In fact, surgical effort is less for this technique than for VASER, which is tiring for many surgeons.

Recovery from Waterjet Liposuction is rapid, with bruising and swelling (if any), generally settling after just 2 weeks. The final results are seen after 6-10 weeks. Pain relief is not always required after surgery.

The WAL technique is associated with a high safety profile as far as local anaesthetic toxicity is concerned. Although a lot more local anaesthetic is used in the duration of this technique, the volume remaining after the surgery is generally within the safe levels.

The major disadvantage of Waterjet Liposuction is the cost involved. Each procedure requires a single-use sterile WAL tubing through which the sterile solution is jet through. This alone costs $500. The volume of local anaesthetic solution required is also many times that of other liposuction techniques.