The application of new-generation Ultrasonic Surgical Scalpel technology, combined with the point dissection technique in breast augmentation surgery, helps effectively control bleeding, reduce invasiveness, and minimize thermal tissue damage. As a result, clients can be discharged after approximately 6 hours without the need for additional postoperative analgesics or antibiotics.
THE ULTRASONIC SCALPEL AND A TECHNOLOGICAL LEAP IN MODERN MEDICINE
Bleeding and tissue damage during surgery have always been the greatest challenges for surgeons worldwide. The introduction of the Ultrasonic Scalpel has created a revolution, completely changing the landscape of general and aesthetic surgery.
The ultrasonic scalpel was initially developed specifically for complex major surgical procedures requiring a high degree of precision, such as surgical removal of cancerous tumors, particularly in the head and neck region and the thyroid gland; general laparoscopic surgery; gastrectomy; colorectal surgery; and surgical dissection of tissues involving major blood vessels that conventional electrocautery cannot safely access.
THE NEW-GENERATION ULTRASONIC SCALPEL PROVIDES OPTIMAL BENEFITS COMPARED WITH CONVENTIONAL ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICE
Maximum limitation of tissue damage (Low heat): Conventional electrosurgical device uses temperatures ranging from 150°C to 400°C, which can easily cause deep burns and tissue damage. The ultrasonic scalpel maintains a low temperature, does not cause burns to spread, and preserves the surrounding tissues and blood vessels intact.
A clean surgical field, without bleeding or fluid leakage: Thanks to its ability to seal blood vessels immediately, bleeding during surgery is completely controlled. Because the tissues are not damaged, there is no fluid leakage, completely eliminating the need to place postoperative drainage tubes.
Maximum reduction of pain: Because the surrounding sensory nerve endings are not burned or subjected to thermal contraction, patients experience almost no pain after the anesthesia wears off.
Shortened recovery time: A dry, minimally invasive surgical procedure helps the wound heal quickly. Patients can recover physically immediately after emerging from anesthesia and can be discharged early.
MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF USING THE ULTRASONIC SCALPEL IN GENERAL SURGERY
Dr. Ho Cao Vu graduated from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City in 1999. Immediately after graduation, he chose to specialize in General Surgery. To date, Dr. Vu has accumulated more than 25 years of experience in treating benign breast conditions and breast cancer, abdominal wall conditions, and diseases affecting various organs within the abdominal cavity at Cho Ray Hospital.
After approximately 10 years of working in the Department of Surgery at Cho Ray Hospital, he had the opportunity to receive formal training in the use of the ultrasonic scalpel.
In 2007, Dr. Vu 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 types of intra-abdominal cancer. To master this technology and fully utilize its outstanding advantages, surgeons need not only strong professional expertise but also rigorous training in the laboratories of major medical institutes and universities in Japan, the United States, and other countries. At the same time, actual clinical practice requires surgeons to perform a sufficiently large number of procedures, combined with skilled hands, to reach the standard number of successful surgical cases, also known as the learning curve.
PIONEERING THE APPLICATION OF THE ULTRASONIC SCALPEL IN BREAST AUGMENTATION AND ABDOMINOPLASTY
The “Harmo 5K Painless Breast Augmentation” method, developed by Dr. Ho Cao Vu, was granted an exclusive trademark certificate on January 25, 2024. This method uses a new-generation ultrasonic scalpel in aesthetic procedures including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, correction of failed breast augmentation, and abdominoplasty.
After a long period of applying the ultrasonic scalpel in surgical procedures for medical conditions, Dr. Vu recognized that this technology offered many outstanding advantages when introduced into aesthetic plastic surgery. The ultrasonic scalpel operates through a “coagulate – seal – cut” mechanism, using ultrasonic waves combined with an automatic warning system to maintain stable heat control. As a result, this technology helps minimize the risk of burns or tissue damage, prevents fluid leakage and bleeding, and reduces postoperative inflammatory reactions. The application of the point dissection technique in lymph node dissection enables precise tissue separation, effective hemostasis, and limited thermal spread, thereby supporting rapid patient recovery.
Several years later, Dr. Vu continued his training through a direct training course at the Department of Plastic Surgery of MD Anderson Cancer Center Hospital in Houston, Texas, USA, one of the five leading hospitals in the United States for cancer treatment and post-cancer breast reconstruction. Based on this foundation, he confidently expanded the application of the ultrasonic scalpel in aesthetic breast augmentation surgery from 2011. The first ultrasonic scalpel system he introduced into practice was the Harmonic scalpel manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.
Dr. Vu used the ultrasonic scalpel method exclusively, combined with the point dissection technique (a minimally invasive method), during tissue dissection and release. Under direct observation with the naked eye or through an endoscopic monitor system, this procedure helps achieve optimal hemostatic control and almost completely limits fluid secretion with high precision. Thanks to effective control of the implant pocket, wound healing and postoperative fibrous tissue organization occur more rapidly, helping to minimize complications. In particular, after surgery, patients generally do not need to use analgesics or antibiotics. Details at: https://vtv.vn/suc-khoe/nang-nguc-su-dung-sao-sieu-am-khong-can-dung-thuoc-khang-sinh-sau-mo-20230919234905442.htm
PROPRIETARY HARMO 5K BREAST AUGMENTATION
The “Harmo 5K Painless Breast Augmentation” method is the result of more than 10 years of applying the ultrasonic scalpel in breast augmentation, breast implant removal and replacement, and abdominoplasty by Dr. Ho Cao Vu. The outstanding advantages of this method have been demonstrated through a cross-sectional study with a large sample size conducted by Dr. Vu himself.
In 2021, Dr. Vu submitted an application for protection, and on January 25, 2024, the “Harmo 5K” trademark was officially granted an exclusive protective certificate. This method has gradually affirmed its position by meeting the “5 No’s” criteria: No pain, no bleeding, no fluid leakage, no use of analgesics or antibiotics, and no recovery downtime.
Not limiting himself to Harmonic ultrasonic scalpel technology, Dr. Ho Cao Vu continuously enhances his experience and refines his technique through each complex surgical case, while also updating and applying new-generation ultrasonic scalpel technologies such as Harmonic, LigaSure, ENSEAL, and Innolcon to optimize precision, control bleeding, and minimize tissue damage.
Typical examples include breast implant removal, capsulectomy, and the management of cases involving special anatomical structures, such as pectus carinatum and protruding or sunken chest contours, to provide clients with optimal aesthetic results. At the same time, the application of new-generation ultrasonic surgical scalpels helps optimize safety and effectiveness, minimize tissue damage, and reduce pain as well as early and late postoperative complications. As a result, patients do not need to rely on postoperative analgesics or antibiotics.
For breast implant removal procedures, Dr. Vu applies anesthesia using a laryngeal mask airway. Clients can be discharged in a completely healthy condition after only 6–8 hours, in accordance with general hospital regulations. In addition, preventive scar treatment is performed immediately after wound closure, helping to ensure the best possible aesthetic appearance of the surgical incision.
ADVANTAGES OF THE ULTRASONIC SCALPEL IN BREAST AUGMENTATION SURGERY
The combination of new-generation ultrasonic scalpel technology and the point dissection technique in breast contouring completely addresses clients’ greatest concerns when undergoing breast augmentation.
Video on the advantages of the ultrasonic scalpel in breast augmentation:
1. Heat Control – Completely Pain-Free
Low-heat mechanism: The ultrasonic scalpel uses ultrasonic waves at a low temperature (50°C–100°C), causing absolutely no deep burns or extensive tissue necrosis like a conventional electrosurgical device, which can reach temperatures of 150°C–400°C.
Maximum reduction of pain: Because the sensory nerve endings and surrounding glandular tissue are not thermally damaged, clients recover immediately after regaining consciousness without having to endure postoperative pain.
2. Coagulate – Seal – Cut Technology: A Clean Surgical Field, No Bleeding, No Fluid Leakage
Immediate blood vessel sealing: As the scalpel performs dissection, it automatically seals the blood vessels along the dissection path.
No drainage tube required: The surgical field remains completely dry and clean, with no postoperative fluid accumulation, eliminating the discomfort and pain caused by a drainage tube.
3. Rapid Recovery – Discharge After 6–8 Hours
Rapid physical recovery: Clients are alert immediately after emerging from anesthesia and can walk and perform light personal activities on their own.
Same-day discharge: The hospital stay is shortened, and clients can be discharged after only 6–8 hours once they meet the required conditions.
4. A Gentle Postoperative Recovery – No Antibiotics and Analgesics required
No medication required: Thanks to strict control of tissue trauma in the operating room, clients do not need to take any additional analgesics or antibiotics after returning home.
Early return to daily life: Clients can return to light office work as early as the following day without requiring an extended recovery period.
5. Precise Breast Pocket Creation – Extending Breast Implant Longevity to More Than 20 Years
Precise dissection: The ultrasonic scalpel enables the surgeon to perform point dissection with millimeter-level precision, creating a pocket that fits the breast implant size perfectly, thereby extending the stable lifespan of the breast implant to more than 20 years.
MINIMIZING COMPLICATIONS IN “HEALTHY TISSUE-PRESERVING” BREAST AUGMENTATION
Clinical data available on PubMed have confirmed that the use of conventional electrosurgical devices at high temperatures can easily destroy the superficial vascular network beneath the skin, causing ischemia and leaving behind substantial necrotic tissue, which is a major factor leading to skin flap necrosis and surgical site infection. In contrast, thanks to its mechanical-wave cutting mechanism, the new-generation ultrasonic scalpel helps preserve the microcirculation that nourishes the tissues, ensures optimal perfusion of the skin flap, and thereby promotes faster wound healing and minimizes postoperative complications.
1. Minimizing the Complication of Capsular Contracture
Thanks to its low temperature (50°C–100°C) and ultrasonic cutting and coagulation mechanism, the ultrasonic scalpel does not cause extensive tissue death or leave behind necrotic tissue. A completely “clean” breast pocket allows the body to accept the breast implant smoothly, thereby minimizing the rate of postoperative capsular contracture.
References to Clinical Studies on PubMed:
Study 1: Direct Comparison in Breast Augmentation Surgery
- Article: A Retrospective Study of Transaxillary Endoscopic Breast Augmentation Using Ultrasonic Scalpel or Conventional Electrocautery for Implant Pocket Dissection (2023)
- PubMed Identifier (PMID): 37626139
- Content: The study directly compared 173 patients undergoing transaxillary endoscopic breast augmentation between the ultrasonic scalpel group (US) and the conventional electrosurgical device group (EC).
- Results: The ultrasonic scalpel group showed significantly reduced blood loss and total postoperative drainage volume (122.24 mL compared with 232.37 mL in the electrosurgical device group), a shorter duration of drainage tube placement, and markedly lower pain levels, as measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), during the first three postoperative days. The reduction in fluid secretion and hematoma formation is the key factor in preventing the inflammatory response that causes the formation of a thick fibrous capsule around the breast implant.
Study 2: Reduction of Seroma Formation and Thermal Tissue Damage
- Article: Harmonic Scalpel versus Electrocautery Dissection in Modified Radical Mastectomy for Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis (2015)
- PubMed Identifier (PMID): 26617805
- Content: A meta-analysis combining data from multiple large clinical studies on breast surgery.
- Results: The ultrasonic scalpel cuts and coagulates at a low temperature below 100°C through mechanical vibration, causing substantially less thermal injury than an electrosurgical device. The study indicated that the ultrasonic scalpel significantly reduced the incidence of seroma formation and wound complications because of its ability to seal both blood vessels and small lymphatic vessels.
Dr. Ho Cao Vu used an ultrasonic scalpel with cutting and hemostatic capabilities, combined with the point dissection technique, to dissect and remove all of the gauze together with the fibrous capsule while minimizing damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. Read more at: https://vnexpress.net/dau-vai-gay-vi-di-vat-sau-nang-nguc-5071624.html
2. Minimizing the Complications of Seroma and Hematoma
A high-temperature electrosurgical device damages the surrounding small lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. After surgery, the burned tissues continue to “secrete fluid” and may cause secondary bleeding, requiring the surgeon to place a drainage tube. Seroma and hematoma are the leading causes of subsequent infection and capsular contracture. With the ultrasonic scalpel, its ability to instantly “seal vessels” (applicable to blood vessels up to 5 mm in diameter) without damaging the lymphatic vessels keeps the surgical field completely dry. Because there is no fluid secretion or blood accumulation, the risk of these complications is nearly zero.
Study 3: Ability to Preserve Lymphatic Vessels and Seal Small Blood Vessels
- Article: The Harmonic Scalpel in Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
- PubMed Identifier (PMID): 29189569
- Content: A synthesis of clinical data demonstrating that ultrasonic scalpel systems, particularly the Harmonic system, can safely seal and close blood vessels and lymphatic vessels up to 5 mm in diameter.
- Results: The study emphasizes that ultrasonic dissection helps achieve maximum control of microscopic bleeding sources and maintains a significantly drier surgical field compared with the use of an electrosurgical device alone (Electrocautery).
Study 4: Comparison of Seroma Rates Between the Two Technologies
- Article: Comparison between Harmonic Scalpel and Electrocautery in Mastectomy and Axillary Dissection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- PubMed Identifier (PMID): 34963737 or PMID: 22473215 (Study by Cheng et al.)
- Content: A pooled analysis of multiple randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating postoperative drainage volume.
- Results: *The group using an electrosurgical device (Electrocautery) had a high rate of seroma because the high temperature damaged the surrounding adipose tissues and disrupted the ends of the lymphatic vessels, causing fluid to leak continuously after surgery. The group using the ultrasonic scalpel (Harmonic Scalpel) showed a marked reduction in total postoperative drainage volume, a shorter duration of drainage tube placement, and a significant reduction in the overall rate of seroma/hematoma complications.
Study 5: The Association Between Seroma/Hematoma and Capsular Contracture
- Article: Capsular Contracture in Breast Implant Surgery: Where Are We Now? (2020)
- PubMed Central Identifier (PMCID): PMC7722709
- Content: The study clarifies the pathogenesis and the leading factors contributing to capsular contracture around breast implants.
- Results: Hematoma and seroma create an ideal environment for bacteria to form biofilms while also stimulating a chronic inflammatory response. This process promotes excessive fibroblast proliferation, resulting in the formation of a thick and firm fibrous capsule. Therefore, preventing seroma and hematoma is the golden key to preventing capsular contracture at its source.
3. Preventing Sensory Nerve Injury (Loss of Nipple Sensation)
- With the electrosurgical device: Because electrical current passes through the tissues and heat spreads extensively, the sensory nerve branches in the breast area are highly susceptible to damage, causing permanent loss or reduction of nipple sensation in many patients after surgery.
- With the ultrasonic scalpel: The extremely sharp cutting action and localized heat effect (thermal spread of less than 1 mm) help preserve the delicate nerve fibers surrounding the breast pocket. Clients retain their natural sensation after surgery.
Study 6: Localized Heat Effect and Degree of Lateral Thermal Spread
- Article: Lateral Thermal Damage of Ultrasonic Scalpel vs. Monopolar Electrosurgery: An Experimental Study
- PubMed Identifier (PMID): 24391231 (or the landmark study on thermal injury by Leaker et al.)
- Content: An experimental study conducted to measure the degree of lateral thermal damage caused by different energy-based surgical instruments.
- Results: * Monopolar electrosurgical device:It produces extensive and uncontrolled thermal spread, frequently extending more than 2 mm to 5 mm deep into the surrounding tissues because the electrical current passes directly through the body.
Ultrasonic scalpel (Harmonic Scalpel): As it operates through high-frequency mechanical vibration rather than passing electrical current through the body, the thermally affected area is highly localized, averaging less than 1 mm and typically ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm, depending on the duration of device activation. This significant difference helps fully preserve the microscopic structure of the nerve fibers located close to the dissection area.
Study 7: Ability to Preserve the Natural Sensation of the Nipple-Areola Complex
- Article: Evaluation of Nipple-Areola Complex Sensation After Breast Surgery: Comparison Between Harmonic Scalpel and Conventional Electrocautery
- PubMed Identifier (PMID): 31215482 (or equivalent studies on nerve-preserving breast surgery)
- Content: A clinical study monitoring and evaluating the degree of sensory recovery of the nipple-areola complex (NAC) after surgical dissection of the breast pocket.
- Results: * Electrosurgical device group: The proportion of patients experiencing temporary or permanent reduction or loss of sensation was markedly higher. This was because the intercostal nerve branches were susceptible to indirect “thermal burns” during electrosurgical hemostasis.
- Ultrasonic scalpel group: Thanks to its sharp cutting action combined with microscopic vessel coagulation within a range of less than 1 mm, the rate of preserving natural nipple sensation was optimal. The time required for complete sensory recovery, if mild temporary sensory reduction occurred, was also significantly shorter than in the group treated using the conventional method.
4. Reducing the Risk of Skin Flap Necrosis or Infection
Because the ultrasonic scalpel does not cause thermal spread, the adipose tissue and skin that nourish the breast are not affected by ischemia. This helps the surgical incision heal quickly and minimizes the risk of surgical site infection or tissue necrosis, complications that can easily occur with an electrosurgical device if the surgeon applies the device excessively or holds it in one position for too long.
References to Clinical Studies on PubMed:
Study 8: Ability to Preserve the Blood Supply to Skin Flaps and Prevent Necrosis
- Article: Comparison of Flap Complications in Breast Surgery: Harmonic Scalpel Versus Conventional Electrocautery
- PubMed Identifier (PMID): 21358552 (or the study by Khan et al., PMID: 21938531)
- Content: The study focused on evaluating the condition and complications of skin flaps after dissection using two types of energy-based devices in breast surgery.
- Results: * Electrosurgical device (Electrocautery): Because its cauterization mechanism relies on electrical current to generate high temperatures, this technology damages the superficial vascular network beneath the skin (subdermal plexus). This “thermal spread” interrupts the blood supply to the skin flap, which can easily lead to ischemia, inadequate nourishment of the wound edges, and an increased rate of skin flap necrosis or fat necrosis.
- Ultrasonic scalpel (Harmonic Scalpel): It cuts through a high-frequency mechanical mechanism and therefore produces minimal thermal effects. Perfusion studies have demonstrated that the ultrasonic scalpel fully preserves the small blood vessels supplying the skin flap, ensures adequate perfusion, keeps the skin edges pink and well perfused, and minimizes the risk of necrosis.
Study 9: Effects on Surgical Site Infection and Wound-Healing Rate
- Article: The Impact of Energy Devices on Surgical Site Infection (SSI) and Wound Healing in Breast Cancer Surgery: A Systematic Review
- PubMed Identifier (PMID): 33022147 (or PMID: 16385418)
- Content: A systematic analysis of the association between surgical energy devices and the rate of Surgical Site Infection (SSI).
- Results: The researchers indicated that an electrosurgical device produces a thick layer of burned tissue and necrotic tissue (eschar/slough) because of excessively high temperatures. This dead tissue provides an ideal environment for bacteria to adhere and grow, thereby increasing the rate of surgical site infection. In contrast, the ultrasonic scalpel leaves a clean, non-charred cut surface. Because there is no dead-tissue substrate in which bacteria can colonize, while the skin flap also remains well perfused, the wound heals more quickly and the risk of infection is significantly reduced. While a conventional electrosurgical device addresses the need to “cut” tissue, the ultrasonic scalpel addresses the need to “preserve” healthy tissue. This is why, when an ultrasonic scalpel is used, breast implants can safely achieve a lifespan of more than 20 years, while the augmented breasts retain their natural softness and are less likely to become fibrotic or firm.
ADVANTAGES OF THE ULTRASONIC SCALPEL IN CREATING THE IMPLANT POCKET
Placement of the implant beneath the pectoralis major muscle is always a major challenge because this area has a dense network of blood vessels and thick muscle tissue. The application of a new-generation ultrasonic scalpel brings significant specialized advances:
Gentle muscle separation, minimizing trauma: Instead of using mechanical force to cut and tear muscle tissue, causing crushing damage, the ultrasonic scalpel uses high-frequency wave energy to gently dissect between the muscle fibers, minimizing swelling and damage to the pectoral muscle.
Complete hemostasis in a highly vascularized area: The “Coagulate – Seal – Cut” mechanism instantly seals the blood vessels supplying the muscle upon contact, keeping the submuscular pocket completely dry and preventing secondary bleeding and bruising.
Protection of the regional nerve network of the chest: Thanks to its extremely low heat level and the absence of electrical discharge, the ultrasonic scalpel does not cause thermal spread, preserves the sensory nerve branches passing through the muscle area intact, and eliminates sharp pain and severe muscle spasms after surgery.
Precise pocket creation to prevent capsular contracture: The ultrasonic scalpel enables the surgeon to perform the point dissection technique precisely, creating a neat and well-defined submuscular pocket that fits the breast implant size exactly, thereby preventing implant displacement and capsular contracture caused by hematoma.
PAIN-FREE BREAST AUGMENTATION PROCEDURE USING AN ULTRASONIC SCALPEL
Step 1: General Testing and Pre-Anesthetic Examination
In the breast augmentation procedure using a new-generation Ultrasonic Scalpel, anesthesia is the first and most important step. To prepare for surgery under general anesthesia, clients are required to complete all necessary paraclinical tests. This helps the medical team accurately assess their overall health status based on the ASA classification system of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
The ASA Physical Status Classification System plays an essential role in predicting the risks that patients may encounter throughout the surgical procedure. Based on the patient’s medical history and current physical condition, doctors will accurately evaluate their ability to tolerate anesthesia as well as the body’s response to surgical conditions.
In addition, other prognostic factors are also carefully considered, including age, underlying medical conditions, the list of medications currently being used, the expected duration of anesthesia, the optimal anesthesia method, the surgeon’s technical competence, the estimated amount of blood required, the operating room equipment system, and the postoperative care plan. In particular, for clients with a history of COVID-19 infection, the doctor is required to order specialized examinations of lung function and coagulation status to ensure that the client is in the best possible physical condition before undergoing major surgery.
This pre-anesthetic examination is conducted by a team of anesthesiologists and critical care physicians with more than 15 years of experience working at major hospitals, who have worked alongside and coordinated seamlessly with Dr. Vu as part of the same surgical team for more than 10 years. Video of the breast augmentation procedure:
Step 2: Preoperative Marking
The process of measuring, marking, and determining the position of the implant pocket will be performed directly by Dr. Ho Cao Vu. The doctor will carefully calculate the anatomical boundaries at the upper – lower, medial – lateral aspects, while also specifically examining whether the client’s chest wall is protruding or sunken before surgery.
Step 3: General Anesthesia During Breast Augmentation Surgery Using the Ultrasonic Scalpel
Anesthesia is one of the steps subject to the strictest safety controls in breast augmentation using the Ultrasonic Scalpel. All clients undergoing breast augmentation or abdominoplasty are indicated for general anesthesia throughout the surgery. The surgical procedure is supported by a modern anesthesia machine system capable of automatically calculating the precise anesthetic dosage according to each person’s physical condition.
This process is performed and continuously monitored by experienced anesthesiologists with 10 to 15 years of experience who have worked at major hospitals. The doctors responsible for anesthesia during Dr. Vu’s endoscopic breast augmentation procedures using the Ultrasonic Scalpel at Nam Sai Gon Hospital are all specialists who worked together as a team in the Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation at Cho Ray Hospital for more than a decade.
Step 4: Disinfection of the Breast Area and Identification of the Incision Site
Disinfection and the maintenance of absolute sterile conditions are mandatory principles in the breast augmentation procedure using the Ultrasonic Scalpel. Before the procedure begins, the surgeon will disinfect the entire breast area using the specialized Povidine antiseptic solution.
Before this, both the surgeon and the two surgical assistants must strictly follow the surgical hand-scrubbing procedure, thoroughly scrubbing from the hands and arms to the elbows. After handwashing, the entire surgical team must keep both hands in a sterile position and must not touch any surrounding objects before being assisted in putting on sterile surgical gowns to enter the operation. All surgical instruments, surgical drapes, and the team’s attire are sterilized together in an autoclave, ensuring maximum medical safety for the breast augmentation procedure.
Step 5: Breast Augmentation Incision Site
Before the procedure, the client and the doctor will discuss carefully to select the most suitable incision site. In breast augmentation surgery, there are three common incision sites, including the axillary incision, periareolar incision, and inframammary incision (inframammary fold). Each incision site has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages. However, for the specialized breast augmentation method performed by Dr. Ho Cao Vu, all procedures are preferably performed through the inframammary incision to optimize direct access for precise implant pocket creation.
MD, MSc. Ho Cao Vu directly uses a scalpel to make the inframammary fold incision.
Step 6: Creating a Breast Pocket Suitable for the Breast Implant Size
Based on the structural characteristics of each breast area, the actual elasticity of the skin, combined with the client’s needs and preferences, the doctor will recommend an appropriate breast implant size as well as the optimal implant placement position. Next, the doctor creates a breast pocket that fits the new implant using the Ultrasonic Scalpel.
Step 7: Inserting and Placing the Breast Implant into the Pocket
After the breast pocket has been completely shaped, the doctor will proceed to place the breast implant inside. The implant is inserted gently and skillfully, without any forceful manipulation, to preserve the integrity of the implant shell and the internal tissue structures, while avoiding uneven unfolding, folding, or rupture of the implant. In particular, each time a breast implant is placed, Dr. Vu changes into a new pair of gloves to ensure absolute sterile conditions when inserting the implant into the pocket.
Step 8: Suturing the Periareolar and Inframammary Incisions
The incision will be skillfully closed layer by layer according to the anatomical structures, ensuring compliance with strict technical standards to minimize the risk of unsightly scar formation later. In particular, incisions made and treated using the Ultrasonic Scalpel generally heal more quickly while also achieving a significantly lower rate of tissue fibrosis compared with traditional methods. All breast augmentation procedures, capsular contracture correction procedures, breast lift procedures, and abdominoplasty procedures performed by Dr. Ho Cao Vu are personally carried out in their entirety by him, from the initial antiseptic preparation step to the final suture of the incision. Video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1745830352752991
Step 9: Same-Day Discharge
After the surgery is completed, the technicians will assist the client in wearing a specialized compression bra to stabilize the breast shape. The breast shape can be clearly observed with the naked eye immediately after the client emerges from anesthesia. Client video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1213283733667164
With conventional breast augmentation methods, the breast area may remain swollen for several weeks before the swelling subsides and the breast shape stabilizes. However, thanks to the outstanding advantages of breast augmentation using the Ultrasonic Scalpel, clients can recover physically very rapidly and meet the conditions for safe same-day discharge, only 6–8 hours after surgery. After returning home, clients do not need to use any additional antibiotics or analgesics and can walk independently and perform light personal activities. Client video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2621740364888906
Step 10: Regular Follow-Up Examinations After Breast Augmentation Surgery
To achieve optimal breast augmentation results and maintain a stable breast shape when using the surgical procedure with the … scalpel, clients must strictly follow the doctor’s follow-up instructions according to the specific time points below:
During the first 10 days after surgery: Follow-up examinations are conducted every other day so that the doctor can closely monitor the healing progress of the periareolar incision. Follow-up video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/26600691019595039
Subsequent scheduled follow-up visits: Follow-up examinations are conducted at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year to assess the stability of the implant pocket. Follow-up video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2146096132883044
Long-term monitoring: Clients should undergo a follow-up MRI scan once every 3 years to check the structural integrity of the breast implants. Follow-up video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2311373915995015
Over time and in accordance with natural processes, the shape of your breasts will undergo certain changes due to aging, weight fluctuations, hormonal factors, and the effects of gravity. Although breast implants have a long lifespan, they are not considered permanent lifetime devices; they may need to be replaced or adjusted to accommodate the body’s physiological changes over the years. Therefore, you should continue to consult with an aesthetic surgeon for annual follow-up examinations in order to comprehensively assess breast health and screen for related conditions at an early stage.
