High-definition Muscular Etching

Ultra-Z ultrasonic lipolysis belongs to the latest-generation liposuction method. Its mechanism is to harness a high-frequency resonant ultrasonic lipolysis probe to rapidly vibrate and emulsify subcutaneous fats and then use the liposuction machine to remove emulsified fats. The working temperature of the Ultra-Z lipolysis machine is controlled at a range acceptable to the skin and soft tissue physiologically, which does not injure major nerves or vessels or even cause burn injury due to a high temperature. Besides, the thermal energy emitted during the process not only promotes blood coagulation and hemostasis of the capillaries to lower postoperative blood stasis but also facilitates protein condensation of subcutaneous tissues to deliver the additional effects of skin tightening or adhesion, thus achieving the dual objectives of fat removal and skin tightening, which is a feature not available in other liposuction methods (such as water jet or mechanical liposuction).

Besides, for the common purposes of obesity liposuction, Ultra-Z is applied for the sculpting of muscular textures and shapes due to its high-frequency lysis and emulsification of superficial fats. Ultra-Z is available in different diameters and lengths of lipolysis probes to conform to the superficial muscular texture and safely acts on the area only 0.5 cm below the skin layer without any physical limitations. It is widely used for regional muscle reshaping, such as the pectorals, biceps, abdominal six packs, or lower abdominal V-line, as such an extremely liposuction obtains certain degrees of muscle segmentation and prominence. Additionally, for superficial fats at other refractory parts, such as the chin, upper back, posterior waist, gluteal folds (smile line), or calf, this method can be used to obtain high degrees of fat reduction.

Such muscular sculpting is mainly aimed at maximally reducing superficial fats to bring out the esthetic lines of muscular textures, and for the thin skin area, it has to preserve only 0.3–0.5-cm thick skin at maximum to attain expected results. Therefore, despite the fact that Ultra-Z lipolysis can be applied to any muscular site, a flexible customized adjustment is also made based on the patient’s requirements, but the scope and safety of the surgery should be determined by the physician and patient after a joint discussion.

Surgical conditions

Duration

0.5hr
  • Type of anesthesia: IV sedation +local anesthesia or general anesthesia
  • Type of incision: A 0.5-cm incision of 2–3 cm around the abdomen
  • Recovery: 5–7 days
  • Removal of stitches: 7–10 days

General instructions

No food and water on the day of surgery

0hr
  • Avoid any muscular exercises for 2 weeks postoperatively.
  • Try to avoid vigorous exercises or weight training for 1 month postoperatively.
  • Continue muscular training exercise at the surgical site for 6 months postoperatively to attain better results.

Ideal candidates

  • Patients with a relatively slim figure who find it difficult to have a muscular line or texture
  • Those who are unable to attain satisfactory muscular lines by regular exercises
  • Those who are unable to restore the previous muscular figure due to aging or skin looseness
  • Those pursuing optimal weight loss and muscular lines

Possible complications

  • Skin depression
  • Irregular lines
  • Pigmentation (temporary)
  • Results short of expectation

Surgical advantages

  1. The surgical hemorrhage is small, and the recovery is fast.

  2. It rapidly reduces skin thickness and presents muscular lines.

  3. It sculpts skinny or fit figures.

  4. The customization degree is high as patients request the area and shape of muscular sculpting.

Surgical drawbacks

  1. It is not applicable for patients with systemic obesity.

  2. Patients have to undertake diet control or perform regular exercise after surgery to maintain results.

  3. Surgical results are poor in patients with already loose or excessively aging muscles.

  4. Muscular sculpting results in a rotund figure.

  5. It may cause regional skin depression or atrophy.

  6. Surgical results are irreversible.

Comparison between Ultra-Z ultrasonic liposuction and other liposuction methods

PAL power-assisted liposuction Ultra-Z liposuction Water jet liposuction Laser lipolysis
Ideal candidates Generally obesity or deep fat deposits Generally obesity, deep and superficial fat deposits, or regional muscle sculpting Generally obesity or deep fat deposits Regional or small-area obesity
Anesthesia method General anesthesia or IV sedation General anesthesia or IV sedation General anesthesia or IV sedation IV sedation + local anesthesia
Liposuction depth Deep fats Superficial/deep fats Deep fats Superficial fats
Liposuction mechanism Mechanical suction Ultrasonic and thermal effect Water pressure Thermal effect
Liposuction tube diameter 3–5 mm 1.2/1.9/2.9 mm 3.5–5 mm 1 mm
Action sites Arms, waist, abdomen, thighs, fat areas over the whole body Face, chin, arms, waist, abdomen, thighs, upper back, buttocks, calf, and muscular sculpting Waist, abdomen, and thighs Face, chin, and arms
Liposuction volume Moderate (within approximately 3000 cc) Most (within approximately 4000 cc) Moderate (within approximately 3000 cc) Least (less than 100 cc)
Intraoperative hemorrhage Moderate Mild Mild Mild
Skin tightening No Yes No No
Muscle sculpting No Yes No No
Skin unevenness Probable Very unlikely Very unlikely No
Postoperative edema Moderate Mild Severe Mild
Postoperative pain Obvious Mild Mild Mild
Surgery objective Fat reduction Fat reduction/ muscular sculpting fat reduction Regional fat reduction
Wearing a compression garment 3 months 1–2 months 2–3 months No
Fat reuse Yes Yes Yes No

Before & After

These photographs represent typical results, but not everyone who undergoes plastic surgery will achieve the same.

Abdominal Muscle Sculpting (Apollo’s Belt) – Female

Abdominal Muscle Sculpting – Female

Abdominal Muscle Sculpting (Six Packs) – Male