Acoustic Streaming

The Process of Acoustic Streaming

Fatty tissue is composed of loosely connected fat cells grouped together in larger groups of cells called lobules. Fat cells have the ability to change dramatically in size — from 20 to over 200 microns in diameter as a person gains weight. To accommodate this change, fat cells are bound together relatively loosely, especially compared to muscle, fascia, nerves and blood vessel cells.

During body contouring with VASER Lipo^®, a tumescent fluid is infiltrated throughout the targeted fatty tissue area. This fluid, which naturally contains microscopic gas bubbles, surrounds the loosely connected fat cells.

When exposed to the ultrasound energy emitted from the VASER Lipo probes, the air bubbles expand and collapse. The force created by these collapsing air bubbles pries the fat cells apart, dislodging them from the fatty tissue matrix.

Selective Emulsification

As the fat cells are displaced, they are mixed with the tumescent solution. This further breaks down the fat clumps into smaller groups of intact fat cells, which are then aspirated.

Since the air bubbles cannot infiltrate between the cells of more dense tissues like blood vessels, nerves and collagen fibers, these tissues remain largely unaffected by the ultrasound energy.

In addition, since the majority of the fat cells in the emulsion remain intact, VASER-treated fat can be used for subsequent fat grafting procedures.