Vaser 4-Dimensional Sculpt or Vaser HD

How did Vaser HD and Vaser 4D Sculpt evolve?

As Liposuction as a procedure, which was invented in the 1980s evolved, there can a need to improve beyond just removing fats. Patients had to look fit and athletic after liposuction. In the beginning there was etching, where supposed outlines of muscular anatomy were etched from below the skin during a liposuction procedure. All for the purpose of bringing out the athletic contours in liposuction patients. Reference Mentz et al.

Then in around 2005, Alfredo Hoyos described Vaser HD (Vaser Hi-def), where muscle shapes were sculpted out of the superficial fat layer within which the Vaser system of liposuction operated. This was truly revolutionary because surgeons can create an illusion of muscle shapes with subcutaneous fat deposits, sometimes augmented with fat grafting. In effect, you could call this Vaser 3D, as opposed to etching which was 2D.

To bring this art of liposuction one step further, Vaser HD was adapted to mimic muscle shapes while the body was in motion (i.e. with the muscle contracted or relaxed). The formed the basis of Vaser 4D (Vaser 4-dimensional Sculpt). The muscle shapes created of of subcutaneous fat by the Vaser HD procedure in this case would be carefully marked beforehand to match both flexed and relaxed positions of the muscle it is trying to mimic. Be it the deltoid, rectus abdominis or the serratus anterior.

Patient selection for Vaser HD and Vaser 4D Sculpt

Obviously not everyone can take the easy way out and get “Greek god or goddess” bodies through liposuction. But you’ll be surprised the bar is not that haigh.

1. You need the rest of the body to match. Because why have abs when the other parts are skinny or too round. Nope, it would be such a faux. So in my practice, the first criterion is a somewhat average built patient in order for Vaser HD or Vaser 4D Sculpt to work. Let’s say we sculpt the abs and define the pectoralis majors in a “dad bods” guy, it would go a long way to improve his self image. Provided he works on his deltoids and Latissimus dorsi in the gym. He would have not just a V-shaped physique, but muscular definition in the front (abs and chest). Same for women, those whom have never gymmed better not get Vaser 4D Sculpt because it would not match the rest of the physique.
2. BMI is a criterion, but really related to the above point as BMI is a rough guide to the kind of overall body shape. That said, patients with high BMIs can still benefit from body sculpting treatments, including liposuction, as long as there is an identifiable area of disproportion from the rest of the body. The objective here is to let the curves flow harmoniously, whether in in plus sized person or an super-skinny. We all welcome diversity, just not disportionate bulges.
3. Expectation is a serious consideration. Many patients want as much fat to be removed as possible. But actually in Vaser HD and Vaser 4D Sculpt, we are deliberately leaving behind some fat, albeit only in strategic areas, to mimic the appearance of muscles. And that itself is sometimes not so acceptable to patients. They would prefer that I remove as much fat as possible, leaving a thin layer under the skin to expose the shape of the underlying muscles. OK, no problem. But that only Vaser Liposuction, not Vaser HD or Vaser 4D Sculpt technically speaking. Anway, the Vaser technology was invented to make the task of removing fat as close to the skin as effortless as possible. So no problem, but that’s not Vaser HD or Vaser 4D Sculpt technically.
4. The usual criteria for liposuction includes all aspects of general health. But that said, I think only people with above average general health would be interested in this blog or in liposuction at all. So in a way, in my 20 years of practice, I have not had to reject anyone based on their health status for liposuction. We have investigated some for irregular heart rhythms, and some for allergies, in consultation with our anesthetist in order to ascertain fitness for liposuction. The only thing is blood thinners. A lot of people, including healthy individuals, are on some sort of  blood thinners (Plavix or Aspirin) or other. These are best stopped one or two weeks before liposuction. Patients should consult their cardiologists if these medications can be temporarily stopped.

 The most important selection criterion for Vaser HD or Vaser 4D Sculpt is motivation. Because even after getting all the muscle shapes sculpted out of the superficial fat, patients should continue to eat healthy and exercise regularly to avoid becoming sloppy.