This article is an extract from the French Association of Cosmetic Surgeons
Review of June 2004 Click here to go to the AFME website
LIPOSUCTION: THE VIBRATION TECHNIQUE - VIBRO-LIPOSCULPTURE (VLS)
A – BACKGROUND
Vibro-liposculpture, a new technique that appeared at the end of the 1990’s, followed on from ultrasound liposculpture. Saturating fatty tissues with the “Klein” liquid helped reduce cannula diameters. It took another ten years before new solutions were proposed in the liposuction field. The benefits of ultrasound had proved unconvincing so the arrival of a new technique for automating liposuction received a lukewarm reception.
B – PRINCIPLE
A grip (or handpiece) to which we attach the cannula, allows to-and-fro movement with a range of about 1cm (variable depending on manufacturers). This movement is generated by a compressed air generator or an electric motor. We will not go into the merits of each mechanism, which is not really pertinent since the different solutions are likely to evolve.
C – VIBRO-LIPOSCULPTURE (VLS) BENEFITS
VLS makes the removal of fatty tissue easier, which means less physical effort for the surgeon and the possibility of extracting fat from those places that are still problematic, like the stomach, sub-chondral pads, back, and hips in particular. The quantity of fat removed no longer depends on the range of the operator’s movements, but on the time the cannula, with its transversal movement, is applied to a given area.
This means that while the surgeon is using the cannula like a scalpel, the cannula’s vibrations really seem to create an emulsion that is immediately suctioned by the cannula. The equipment’s weight and bulk and its vibration for the hand may be disturbing at first. We are all used to holding our suction cannula firmly, but in this case we need to do the opposite and just use a simple guiding movement to let the instrument run itself.
The result is obviously greater precision in each gesture and better control of the amount of fat removed.
D – CONCLUSION
This is an obvious progress in liposculpture. As long as we master the technique properly, we get a clear improvement in end results, with the possibility of extracting fat easily from areas that were previously difficult to treat.
In our opinion, this is real progress in a field that has seen little innovation since its initial invention.