“Non-invasive” has been a popular adjective convenien-tly placed before beauty and slimming procedures for a couple of years now. While non-invasive treatments may seem like an easier choice to make, they usually need more sessions for effects to be visible. You also need to go back again after a few months for a refresher series of sessions since non-invasive procedures’ effects are usually not permanent. If all you really want is a little firming of the skin, or just stubborn pockets of fat to be minimized for a special event, then these non-surgical procedures are perfect for you. But what if you want to permanently change your shape and remove fat, without the long and painful recovery period hassles of older liposuction procedures? Marrying the dramatic effects of a surgical lipo procedure and the quick recovery of non-invasive procedures is what Vaser Lipo is all about.
The heat is on
You know how some lipo-ed stomachs look flat but seem to have a weird lumpy appearance? Apparently, it’s from the older technology of liposuction — having to literally scrape off fat from under the skin with no assurance of an even removal by the rod cannula — resulting in an uneven, chunky appearance. Now, with Vaser lipo (short for Vibration Amplified Sound Energy Resonance) you get better results that are not only even, but also safer and less traumatic for the body. “Vaser lipo entails ultrasonic energy to break up fat while keeping blood vessels and tissues surrounding the area relatively intact. A smaller probe is inserted into the affected area and then fat is melted and then sucked out — unlike in older methods where the fat was just scraped off,” says Dr. Manny Calayan of Calayan Surgicenter (Calayan Surgicenter, Makati, tel. 751-2524; Timog tel. 376-5576; www.calayanmd.com). “This newer surgical method is less traumatic for the body and requires just one day of rest after the procedure. You can do it on a Friday or Saturday, and be back to work on Monday. And unlike other non-invasive fat reduction methods, you only need to do this once with very dramatic results,” adds Dr. Calayan. Older lipo methods usually entailed eight holes for the rod cannula, this one only requires two. Dr. Calayan says that this is perfect for stubborn fat that won’t go away in the stomach, back, arms and even the face. “There are smaller rods for this procedure for facial fat removal, and other areas where there is only a small pocket of fat,” adds Dr. Calayan, meaning areas that used to be off-limits for surgical lipo, like rounded cheeks, fatty armpit areas, etc. can now be permanently treated. Maximum results will be visible after about two to three months as time is needed for some swelling to subside. After that, you have permanent new curves that you can flaunt. “It would be best to have a better lifestyle — eating healthy and staying active — after the procedure so you enjoy the full benefits of the procedure for longer,” adds Dr. Calayan. And just as with any surgical procedure, you need to get clearance from the doctors first before you can undergo Vaser Lipo, “There are some health conditions that will discourage surgical fat removal such as diabetes, heart problems, etc. so it’s best to be honest with your doctor so everything will be safe,” warns Dr. Calayan.