HO CAO VU

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OVER 20 YEARS OF USING ULTRASONIC SCALPELS IN SURGERY

MD, MSc. Ho Cao Vu graduated from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City in 1999. Immediately after graduation, he pursued a specialization in General Surgery. To date, Dr. Vu has more than 25 years of experience treating benign and malignant breast diseases, abdominal wall conditions, and diseases involving multiple intra-abdominal organs at Cho Ray Hospital. After approximately 10 years of service in the Department of Surgery at Cho Ray Hospital, he had the opportunity to receive formal training in the use of ultrasonic scalpels.

Since 2007, Dr. Vu has traveled to Singapore to learn how to apply the Harmonic scalpel in surgery for complex cases such as lymph node dissection in gastric cancer, breast cancer, and various other intra-abdominal cancers. To master and fully leverage the outstanding advantages of this technology, a surgeon not only needs solid expertise but also must undergo rigorous training in the laboratory settings of major medical institutes and universities in Japan, the United States, and other countries. At the same time, real clinical practice requires a sufficiently large number of hands-on surgical cases, combined with refined surgical dexterity, to reach the standard number of successful surgeries, also known as the learning curve.

PIONEERING THE APPLICATION OF ULTRASONIC SCALPELS IN BREAST AUGMENTATION AND ABDOMINOPLASTY

The “Harmo 5K Pain-Free Breast Augmentation” method created by MD, MSc. Ho Cao Vu was granted exclusive trademark protection on January 25, 2024. This method uses a new-generation ultrasonic scalpel in aesthetic breast augmentation, breast implant explantation, revision of failed breast surgery, and abdominoplasty.

After a long period of applying ultrasonic scalpels in pathological surgeries, Dr. Vu recognized that this technology offers many outstanding advantages when introduced into aesthetic plastic surgery. The ultrasonic scalpel operates through a “coagulation – sealing – cutting” mechanism, using ultrasonic waves combined with an automatic alert system to maintain stable temperature control. As a result, this technology helps minimize the risk of burns or tissue injury, with no fluid secretion and no bleeding, while reducing postoperative inflammatory response. The application of point dissection in lymph node dissection enables precise dissection, effective hemostasis, and minimal thermal spread, thereby supporting faster patient recovery. Video: Why is breast augmentation painless?

Several years later, Dr. Vu continued his hands-on training at the Department of Plastic Surgery of MD Anderson Cancer Center Hospital (Houston, Texas, USA), one of the top 5 hospitals in the United States for cancer treatment and post-cancer breast reconstruction. From this foundation, he confidently expanded the use of ultrasonic scalpels into aesthetic breast augmentation surgery in 2011. The first ultrasonic scalpel line he introduced into practice was the Harmonic scalpel from Johnson & Johnson.

Dr. Vu has used a fully ultrasonic scalpel-based method combined with the point dissection technique, a minimally invasive approach, during tissue dissection and release. Under direct visualization with the naked eye or through an endoscopic monitor system, this process allows optimal hemostatic control and nearly complete limitation of fluid secretion with high precision. By achieving good control of the implant pocket, postoperative wound healing and fibrous tissue organization occur more quickly, helping minimize complications. In particular, after surgery, patients generally do not need analgesics or antibiotics.

PROPRIETARY HARMO-5K BREAST AUGMENTATION

The “Harmo 5K Pain-Free Breast Augmentation” method is the result of more than 10 years of applying ultrasonic scalpels in breast augmentation, breast implant explantation and reimplantation, and abdominoplasty by MD, MSc. Ho Cao Vu. The outstanding advantages of this method have been demonstrated through a large-sample cross-sectional study conducted by Dr. Vu himself.

Proprietary Harmo 5K pain-free breast augmentation: Video

In 2021, Dr. Vu submitted an application for trademark protection, and on January 25, 2024, the “Harmo 5K” trademark was officially granted an exclusive trademark protection certificate. This method has gradually established its position by meeting the “5 No” criteria: no pain, no bleeding, no fluid secretion, no oral analgesics/antibiotics, and no downtime.

Beyond the Harmonic ultrasonic scalpel, MD, MSc. Ho Cao Vu has continuously refined his experience and perfected his technique through each difficult surgical case. Typical examples include breast implant explantation, capsulectomy, and cases involving special anatomical structures such as pectus carinatum or protruding/depressed thoracic cage anatomy, with the goal of achieving optimal aesthetic outcomes for patients. At the same time, the application of new-generation ultrasonic surgical scalpels helps optimize safety, minimize tissue injury, reduce pain, and limit early and late postoperative complications. As a result, patients do not need to rely on postoperative analgesics or antibiotics.

For breast implant explantation cases, Dr. Vu applies a modern laryngeal mask airway anesthesia method. Patients can be discharged in a fully stable condition after only 6 – 8 hours, in accordance with general hospital regulations. In addition, the preventive scar treatment protocol immediately after wound closure is also personalized according to a protocol developed by an expert with more than 40 years of experience, helping ensure maximum aesthetic quality for the future scar.

How is breast implant explantation under laryngeal mask airway anesthesia different from endotracheal anesthesia: Video

Video distinguishing new ultrasonic scalpels from old ultrasonic scalpels: Video

Breast implant placement for a patient with a breast tumor requiring surgery

Ms. T.M., 37 years old, had discovered multiple benign masses in her breasts many years earlier. Recently, after noticing one abnormally large mass, the patient underwent biopsy and received a diagnosis of a benign phyllodes tumor. A phyllodes tumor is a benign tumor, not cancer, located within the breast gland. It typically grows rapidly, may enlarge within a few weeks or months, and often does not cause obvious pain. On palpation, it may feel like a round, multilobulated mass with relatively well-defined borders, a slightly firm consistency, and mobility. After consultation, Dr. Vu assessed that the phyllodes tumor was relatively large and had been growing quite rapidly over a short period. According to the ultrasound results, the mass had regular margins, well-defined borders, an orientation parallel to the skin surface, and increased vascularity, suggesting the possibility of a phyllodes tumor. Therefore, the surgeon advised the female patient to undergo complete tumor excision using an ultrasonic scalpel.

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Successful surgery: Breast tumor excision combined with breast implant placement using a new-generation ultrasonic scalpel. Performed by MD, MSc. Ho Cao Vu: Video

Advantages of the ultrasonic scalpel in breast tumor excision surgery

The application of ultrasonic scalpels in breast tumor excision surgery in Vietnam has been used since around 2010 onward, offering patients many postoperative advantages, including effective hemostasis (the ultrasonic scalpel uses ultrasonic waves for coagulation, sealing, and cutting, significantly reducing intraoperative and postoperative bleeding, especially in tumors with highly vascular structures); reduced injury to surrounding tissues (lower heat generation compared with electrosurgery, helping limit tissue injury and reduce the risk of necrosis); shorter operative time (integrated cutting and hemostasis helps shorten surgery time); reduced postoperative pain (less tissue injury leads to less pain and faster recovery, and patients may not need postoperative analgesics); and a more aesthetic incision (precise cutting, less unfavorable scarring, which is especially important in breast surgery).

MD, MSc. Ho Cao Vu advises patients who already have breast masses to regularly monitor abnormalities such as rapid tumor growth, significant pain, increased firmness, and other changes, and to undergo periodic ultrasound examinations and mammography according to the protocol of their treating physician. If a patient wishes to combine excision of a large tumor such as a phyllodes tumor with breast implant placement, it is advisable to choose surgeons specialized in benign and malignant breast diseases together with an aesthetic surgeon, in order to achieve both safety and aesthetic outcomes in a single surgery.

Video of tumor excision combined with breast implant placement

Ms. T.M. shared: “I had wanted breast augmentation for many years, but because I had multiple breast masses, I was afraid it would affect my health and future breast disease. After being referred to MD, MSc. Ho Cao Vu, she wanted to undergo phyllodes tumor excision combined with breast implant placement.

After consultation, Dr. Vu assessed that the phyllodes tumor was relatively large and had been growing quite rapidly over a short period. According to the ultrasound results, the mass had regular margins, well-defined borders, an orientation parallel to the skin surface, and increased vascularity, suggesting the possibility of a phyllodes tumor. Therefore, the surgeon advised the female patient to undergo complete tumor excision using an ultrasonic scalpel.

Removing chip breast implants using an ultrasonic surgical scalpel: Video

The operation mechanism of the ultrasonic surgical scalpel in breast augmentation surgery: Video

Compilation of videos on breast implant explantation and capsulectomy using an ultrasonic surgical scalpel: Video

Breast augmentation using an ultrasonic scalpel: Safe, no analgesics or antibiotics required: Video

MRI Results: Breast implant leakage after 13 years of breast augmentation: Video

Risks of using an ultrasonic scalpel in breast augmentation surgery: Video

Painless breast augmentation using the Harmonic ultrasonic scalpel: Video

Follow-up after Harmonic breast augmentation before the patient returned to the United States: Video

Review of pain-free breast augmentation using the Harmonic scalpel after 4 months | Painless Breast Augmentation: Video

Review of breast augmentation by Harmonic scalpel: Video

Review of eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty: Video

Below are several real patient images after breast implant placement at the center. Each breast shape is personalized by the team of specialists, with a balanced harmony between body proportions, height, and personal goals to create the fullest, softest, and most natural-looking breasts possible.