Body contouring surgery · London
VASER Hi-Def abdominal etching, for lean, trained bodies.
Ultrasonic liposuction with the Hoyos Hi-Def technique, in a CQC-registered London day-surgery unit. A named BAAPS or BAPRAS plastic surgeon who will tell you honestly whether Hi-Def, standard VASER, Renuvion or an abdominoplasty is the right operation for the body in front of them.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A named VASER Hi-Def surgeon, trained on the Hoyos technique
Not a general liposuction list. A plastic surgeon with formal Hi-Def training and a photographed case book of male and female etching results.
- 02
The right operation for the body in front of us
Hi-Def only works on lean, muscular candidates with tight skin. If you need excisional lifting or Renuvion, we say so before you commit.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What VASER Hi-Def costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner units. Send photos and goals and we quote firm figures across two or three surgeons.
In short
A day-case VASER in our London network: £4,500–£16,500, garment on for 6 to 8 weeks.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical consultation and Hi-Def planning | £250–£400 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| VASER standard, single area (abdomen or flanks) | £4,500–£7,500 | 2–3 h | Day case |
| VASER 360 body (abdomen, flanks, back, bra roll) | £9,500–£16,500 | 4–5 h | Day case or 1 night |
| VASER Hi-Def etching plus fat transfer to gluteal | £14,000–£28,000 | 4–6 h | 1 night |
| Renuvion J-Plasma skin tightening (add-on) | £2,500–£5,500 | 30–60 min | Same operation |
| Second-opinion review of prior liposuction result | £250–£450 | 30 min | 48 hours |
Prices vary by surgeon, by whether Hi-Def sculpting and fat transfer are added, by the number of areas treated, and by whether Renuvion is combined. Combined facial or breast procedures are quoted separately.
The journey
From first photo to final contour, what happens, in order.
One team from first message to 12-month review, including garments, massage and the honest 6-month photograph.
- 01
Before
You send us photos and goals
A short, confidential form. Front, side and back photos in good light, your BMI, your training history, and the definition you are hoping for.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: whether VASER Hi-Def fits, or whether standard VASER, Renuvion or an abdominoplasty is the more honest call. Indicative price either way.
- 03
Before
Surgical consultation and consent
A face-to-face consultation with the surgeon, skin-quality assessment, muscle mapping in marker pen, DVT risk review and a two-week cooling-off period before surgery.
- 04
On the day
Admission and marking
Arrival, final marking on standing anatomy, anaesthetic review and TED stockings. Antibiotics and tranexamic acid at induction.
- 05
On the day
VASER Hi-Def sculpting
3 to 5 hours under general anaesthetic. Tumescent infiltration, ultrasound emulsification per zone, aspiration with sculpting cannulas, and optional fat transfer to gluteal, hip or pectoral.
- 06
On the day
Day case or one night in
Compression garment fitted in theatre. Most patients go home the same evening; larger 360 cases stay one night. A carer is needed for the first 48 hours.
- 07
After
Recovery and review
Compression garment 6 to 8 weeks, lymphatic massage from week one, driving at two weeks, light training at 3 to 4 weeks, full training at 6 to 8 weeks. Final result at 6 months.
When it helps
When VASER Hi-Def is the right operation - and when it is not.
The bodies we see most, plus the presentations where an abdominoplasty, Renuvion or CoolSculpting is the honest answer instead.
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Six-pack abdominal etching
Superficial fat is removed over the linea alba and semilunaris lines to reveal the underlying rectus abdominis in lean, trained patients.
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Pectoral definition and delt-pec groove
Sculpting the lateral chest, the delt-pec groove and the sternal border for a defined male chest, often combined with gynaecomastia correction.
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Feminine hip-waist curves
A softer Hi-Def pattern that narrows the waist, defines the mid-clavicular Adonis line and enhances hip-to-waist ratio without a masculine six-pack.
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Stubborn flank and love-handle fat
Localised pockets that survive diet and training. Standard VASER is usually enough here; Hi-Def is added if you also want visible oblique lines.
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Inner thigh and inner arm contouring
VASER preserves connective tissue and vessels, giving better skin retraction than standard tumescent liposuction in these thin-skin areas.
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Fat transfer to gluteal or pectoral
Emulsified fat is harvested, processed and re-injected to add projection to the buttock, hip or male chest in the same operation.
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Not for weight loss
VASER is a contouring operation, not a bariatric one. BMI ideally under 28, with muscle mass and reasonable skin quality already in place.
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Not for loose skin
Significant skin laxity, stretch marks or a post-pregnancy overhang need an abdominoplasty or Renuvion adjunct, not liposuction alone.
Procedure options
VASER Hi-Def sits inside a family of body-contouring options.
What each option on the table actually involves, and which fits which body. For loose skin, an abdominoplasty is often the more honest operation than any liposuction.
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Standard VASER lipoplasty
Ultrasound-assisted removal of deep and intermediate fat with skin retention. The workhorse for flanks, abdomen, back and thighs when definition is not the goal.
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VASER Hi-Def (Hoyos technique)
Superficial fat is selectively sculpted over the underlying muscular anatomy, revealing an etched contour. Requires muscle mass and tight skin to work well.
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VASER 360 body contouring
Circumferential treatment of abdomen, flanks, back and bra roll in one operation. Longer surgery and a stricter garment protocol, but a single recovery.
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VASER plus fat transfer
Emulsified fat is filtered and re-injected into the gluteal, hip or pectoral to add projection. Adds 30 to 60 minutes and a modified garment plan.
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VASER plus Renuvion
Helium plasma is passed subdermally after aspiration to tighten mild to moderate skin laxity. Adds cost but rescues borderline skin quality.
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CoolSculpting (cryolipolysis)
Non-surgical fat freezing for small pockets. Much less dramatic than VASER, no definition, but no anaesthetic and no downtime.
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Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
Removes skin and fat and repairs diastasis. The right operation when the problem is loose skin after weight loss or pregnancy, not stubborn fat.
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Second-opinion review
A specialist review of prior liposuction photographs, contour irregularities or revision requests before you commit to more surgery.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of Hi-Def surgeons, we picked them.
Plastic surgeons with formal VASER Hi-Def training, based at Cadogan Clinic, London Bridge Cosmetic Surgery, HCA The Wellington and King Edward VII’s. Introductions are private, once we understand your case.
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BAAPS or BAPRAS-registered plastic surgeons with formal VASER Hi-Def training
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Photographed male and female Hi-Def case books, not stock imagery
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CQC-registered day-surgery units with consultant anaesthetist cover
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A named revision policy and an in-house lymphatic massage pathway
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
VASER Hi-Def is real surgery under general anaesthetic. The things worth planning are your garments, your first 48 hours, the two-week bruising window, and the honest 6-month photograph.
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General anaesthetic, consultant-led
A consultant anaesthetist looks after you throughout. TED stockings, calf pumps and tranexamic acid are standard to reduce DVT and bleeding.
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Bruising, tenderness and swelling
Extensive bruising for 2 to 4 weeks and tenderness for 4 to 6 weeks are the rule, not the exception. Final contour settles at 6 months.
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Compression garment for 6 to 8 weeks
Non-negotiable. The garment moulds the skin onto the new contour and reduces seroma. Second-stage garments are supplied as swelling drops.
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Seroma, haematoma and contour irregularity
The commonest specific complications. Seromas are drained in clinic; small irregularities usually improve with massage and time.
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Thermal burn from the ultrasound probe
Rare, but real if the probe dwells too long in one area. A trained VASER surgeon uses pulsed mode and continuous movement to avoid it.
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DVT and pulmonary embolism
Low but not zero, particularly with long 360 cases. Early mobilisation, hydration, mechanical prophylaxis and chemical prophylaxis when indicated.
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Sensation change and dyspigmentation
Numbness or hypersensitivity over treated areas is common early on and usually recovers by 6 months. Darker skin types are at higher risk of pigment change.
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Revision rate 10 to 20%
Even in expert hands, roughly one in ten patients wants a touch-up at 6 to 12 months. Ask about the revision policy before you consent.
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Red flags after discharge
Calf pain and swelling, breathlessness, spreading redness, high fever, or a rapidly enlarging fluid collection. Call the unit or attend A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your VASER note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whether you had standard VASER or a full Hi-Def etching, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
- 01 Header
Areas treated and volumes aspirated
Which zones were sculpted, whether Hi-Def or standard VASER was used, and how much fat was aspirated per area in millilitres.
- 02 Technique
Tumescent, ultrasound and cannula plan
The tumescent formula, VASER probe size and energy per zone, aspiration cannula sizes, and whether fat transfer or Renuvion was added.
- 03 Findings
Skin quality, symmetry and blood loss
The surgeon’s intra-operative note on skin retraction, symmetry versus the marked plan, and estimated blood loss.
- 04 Impression
Garment plan and review dates
Read this first: garment weeks 1 to 6 versus weeks 6 to 8, massage schedule, driving and training milestones, and the 3, 6 and 12-month review dates.
Recognised by major UK insurers (medically indicated cases only)
Cosmetic body contouring is self-pay. Insurers may cover reconstructive elements (for example, gynaecomastia correction). We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about VASER Hi-Def.
Quick answers on candidacy, cost, recovery, permanence and how to pick a surgeon safely.
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What is VASER Hi-Def and how is it different from standard liposuction?
VASER (Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance) uses a pulsed ultrasound probe to emulsify fat before it is aspirated. This preserves connective tissue and blood vessels, which improves skin retraction. Hi-Def is a technique on top of that, developed by Alfredo Hoyos in Colombia, where superficial fat is selectively removed over muscular anatomy to reveal an etched contour rather than simply reducing volume.
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Am I a candidate for abdominal etching?
Ideal candidates have a BMI under 28, existing muscle mass from regular training, and good skin quality with minimal laxity. Hi-Def cannot create muscle you do not have, and it cannot tighten loose skin from prior weight loss or pregnancy. If your main issue is skin, an abdominoplasty or a Renuvion adjunct is the more honest recommendation.
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How much does VASER Hi-Def cost privately in the UK?
Roughly £4,500 to £7,500 for a single area, £9,500 to £16,500 for a 360 body treatment, and £14,000 to £28,000 for full Hi-Def etching combined with fat transfer to the gluteal, hip or pectoral. Renuvion adds £2,500 to £5,500. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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What is recovery actually like?
Extensive bruising for 2 to 4 weeks and tenderness for 4 to 6 weeks are the rule. A compression garment is worn for 6 to 8 weeks, driving is safe from around week two, light training resumes at 3 to 4 weeks, and full training at 6 to 8 weeks. Lymphatic drainage massage from week one accelerates the resolution of swelling. Final contour settles at about 6 months.
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Is the result permanent?
The adipocytes removed do not grow back, so the improved contour is durable. If you gain significant weight afterwards, the remaining fat cells enlarge and can distort the sculpted result. Maintaining your weight and training pattern is part of the operation.
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How do I choose a surgeon safely?
Look for BAAPS or BAPRAS membership, formal VASER Hi-Def training, and a photographed case book of results on bodies similar to yours. Ask about revision rates, the anaesthetist, the CQC-registered facility, and the aftercare pathway including garments and lymphatic massage. If a quote is dramatically below the ranges above, ask why.
Ready when you are
Send us photos and goals. We come back within a working day.
An honest read on whether VASER Hi-Def, standard VASER, Renuvion or an abdominoplasty is the right operation for the body in front of us, plus firm figures across two or three surgeons in our London network.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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CoolSculpting (cryolipolysis)
Non-surgical fat freezing for small pockets, no downtime.
Learn more -
Emsculpt Neo
Non-surgical muscle stimulation and fat reduction.
Learn more -
Renuvion J-Plasma
Helium plasma skin tightening, often combined with VASER.
Learn more -
Fat-dissolving injections
Aqualyx and Kybella for very small, localised pockets.
Learn more -
BBL fat transfer to buttocks
Autologous fat grafting for gluteal projection.
Learn more -
Post weight-loss body contouring
Excisional lifts after major weight loss or GLP-1 use.
Learn more