Tumescent Liposuction Overview

The tumescent technique may be the reason liposuction is the number one surgical cosmetic surgery in the United States (according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons).

Tumescent Liposuction or “Tumescent Liposculpting” procedure is one of the safest, most effective methods of liposuction, and has been available since the mid-1980s. Although tumescent liposuction is relatively new in the world of cosmetic surgery, it has become extremely popular because of its unique combination of safety and accuracy.

Tumescent liposuction is simplified compared to other liposuction methods. The tumescent liposuction advantage is two-fold: first; it only requires local anesthesia, and second; it is minimally invasive requiring only a few tiny incisions.  Those factors reduce the recovery time to about 24-48 hours. All liposuction surgical techniques are meant to improve the body’s contour by removing fat deposits located between the skin and muscle but the tumescent liposuction technique can do this much more accurately and remove more of the fat layer. This is possible because in tumescent liposuction, the patient is usually awake which allows the surgeon to feel the patient’s muscle tone alongside the fat layer. This is a huge advantage of tumescent liposuction and really lets an experienced surgeon in the tumescent technique take more fat than tradition liposuction methods. When a patient is more sedated as with more traditional liposuction methods, the surgeon usually errors on the side of being more conservative in the removal of fat.

Tumescent Liposuction Technology

Tumescent liposuction, sometimes referred to as liposcultping, incorporates use of a very small stainless steel tube called a cannula (from the Latin word for reed, tube, cane). The cannula used in tumescent liposuction is connected to a powerful vacuum and inserted into the fat through small incisions in the skin. Fat removal is accomplished as the suction cannula creates tiny tunnels through the fatty layers. After a tumescent liposuction, as the body heals the patient is left with a much thinner fat layer.
Many modified forms of tumescent liposuction exist today with different levels of sedation. The word “tumescent liposuction” comes from the true essence and definition of Tumescent anesthesia. The definition of Tumescent anesthesia is to use local anesthesia to inject or “tumesce” (make firm with fluid) the fat and skin layers. Tumescent anesthesia not only makes the areas numb, but also acts to constrict the blood vessels in the area so there is almost negligible blood loss. This is truly what leads to such a rapid recovery when your surgeon uses the Tumescent liposuction technique.

Tumescent Liposuction’s Main Advantage

In Tumescent liposuction there is less bleeding and this means much less post operative swelling and this is what allows patients to be back on their feet again the very next day. This is a huge advancement of Tumescent liposuction over more tradition methods of liposuction. The other amazing fact about tumescent liposuction is that it can be combined with other liposuction techniques. Often other liposuction modalities are performed first to loosen the fat and then the surgeon removes what is left through the tumescent liposuction technique.

Other Benefits and Advantages of Tumescent Liposuction

In Tumescent liposuction patients do not need general anesthesia. Most patients receive no sedation or only minor sedation to help them relax and are completely comfortable and awake during the Tumescent liposuction surgery. Post operative discomfort after a tumescent liposuction is significantly reduced since the local anesthesia is effective for 8-16 hours after surgery.

The suction tubes used in the tumescent liposuction technique are very thin and minimize the amount of trauma produced. The incisions usually heal nicely with few if any sutures. There is minimal scarring.

After a tumescent liposuction surgery patients can get up and walk out of the office themselves, and are usually back to their regular routine in a couple of days.

Tumescent liposuction provides several advantages over traditional liposuction:

• Using local anesthesia in tumescent liposuction instead of general anesthesia eliminates nausea and other general-anesthesia-related side effects.
• The recovery time is shorter with tumescent liposuction.
• There is less blood and fluid loss in tumescent liposuction.
• Use of antibacterial lidocaine in the tumescent liposuction technique may reduce the chance of infection.
• Intravenous fluid replacement is not necessary with tumescent liposuction.
• The swelling or tumescence of the fatty deposits amplifies the targeted areas for liposuction, thus reducing the risk of a secondary procedure.
• The new cannula design with tumescent liposuction reduces bruising and swelling after surgery.
• Smaller incisions result in less scarring.

Tumescent Liposuction History

Tumescent liposuction was invented in 1985, by California dermatologist (dermatologic surgeon), Jeffrey Klein, M.D. Since, many refinements have been made to improve the tumescent liposuction technique and results. The most significant improvement of tumescent liposuction was the use of dilute local anesthetic instead of general anesthesia. This made tumescent liposuction one of the most precise and safe procedures in the field of cosmetic and plastic surgery, reducing complications from anesthesia and fluid loss due to larger incisions and larger instruments.

The tumescent technique is the most important advancement in liposuction surgery since it was introduced to this country in the early 1980s. The tumescent liposuction technique produces smoother results while greatly decreasing risk, expense and postoperative discomfort. Tumescent liposuction is a one-day outpatient procedure.

In liposuction before the tumescent technique, larger incisions were made in the fatty areas for insertion of long cannulas. The cannulas that were inserted through the skin were typically quite large compared to the cannula size options used in tumescent liposuction. The traditional technique typically required general anesthesia, possibly causing a longer recovery time, and increased risk of blood loss or reaction to anesthesia.

With tumescent liposuction, one or more small incisions may be made with smaller cannulas. Furthermore, the newer tumescent liposuction technique and the micro-cannulas allow for a more gradual, targeted, and metered treatment than traditional liposuction, and a more gradual and controlled removal of fat. This enables the tumescent surgeon to contour the area more effectively.

Tumescent Liposuction Technique

With the tumescent technique, the doctor injects a solution into the fatty tissue that anesthetizes the area. It causes the area to become firm and swollen (tumescent), which enables the surgeon to extract fat more accurately and uniformly, and thereby tumescent liposuction produce smoother results. Tumescent liposuction uses thinner cannula compared to other liposuction techniques that is inserted through a tiny incision in an inconspicuous location. The fat is removed through this tube with the assistance of a high pressure vacuum.

Tumescent Liposuction Procedure

Tumescent liposuction uses cannulas that have now been miniaturized so that they can be inserted through much smaller openings in the skin. A number of small holes may be placed in the skin around the treated area in tumescent liposuction (instead of few larger holes used in other liposuction techniques). The cannulas used in the tumescent technique are inserted through these small openings and the fat is removed.

The term “tumescent” means swollen and firm, which is how this technique prepares the fatty tissue for removal. In tumescent liposuction, a solution of lidocaine (a local anesthetic) is injected into the fatty area along with a solution to constrict the blood vessels (typically epinephrine). The lidocaine injected in the tumescent liposuction procedure is absorbed by the fatty tissue and causes the tissues to become swollen and firm. A large area of fatty tissue can be numbed using this technique, allowing for a large area of liposuction to be performed while the patient is under local anesthesia.

The epinephrine used in tumescent liposuction causes the blood vessels to constrict or shrink in the area of the procedure, which has a number of advantages mentioned above. The vasoconstriction limits blood loss during the tumescent liposuction procedure and provides for a longer-lasting numbing effect, because there is less blood flow to carry the lidocaine away from the area of the procedure.

After tumescent liposuction, the area of the liposuction procedure may stay numb for 36 hours without further injection of lidocaine or other pain killers.

Body Areas That Can Be Treated by Tumescent Liposuction

Areas that can be treated with Tumescent liposuction include:

·         Neck and Jowls

·         Arms

·         Abdomen

·         Buttocks

·         Hips

·         Inner and Outer Thighs (saddle bags or riding breeches on women)

·         Knees

·         Legs

·         Flanks (love handles on men)

·         Enlarged Male Breasts (gynecomastia)

Tumescent liposuction can also be used in the treatment of a number of medical conditions, as well as aid in the performance of other, non-cosmetic surgical procedures.

Best Candidates for Tumescent Liposuction

The best candidates for Tumescent liposuction are active, healthy persons of average or near-average weight and good skin tone are best suited for liposuction. Overweight individuals can benefit from tumescent liposuction if they are in the process of exercising and losing weight. However, the tumescent liposuction technique is not for the very obese and is not a substitute for weight loss. Candidates for tumescent liposuction must have realistic expectations for what liposuction can and cannot do. Candidates for Tumescent liposuction must have no significant medical problems. Age by itself is not a significant factor in tumescent liposuction.

The best way to know if you are a good candidate for Tumescent liposuction is to schedule a consultation with a tumescent liposuction physician. He or she will be able to study your case and answer all your questions in regards to Tumescent liposuction.

Tumescent Liposuction Safety

Tumescent liposuction like any surgery carries risk. Tumescent liposuction, however, when performed by a skilled and experienced tumescent physician who uses the tumescent technique, has been shown to be quite safe.

Tumescent Liposuction Recovery

The recovery time after Tumescent liposuction varies with how many areas are treated and with the type of activity the patient intends to resume. Most patients are performing routine duties after two days of their tumescent liposuction, but others may require 6 or 7 days to recover.

In Tumescent liposuction there are no bandages in the traditional sense. Special compression garments are worn under clothing for a period of time after the tumescent procedure. These garments are designed specifically for this procedure and are unnoticeable when used under clothing. The garment is designed to help the skin contract after a Tumescent liposuction and its use will help the patient achieve better results.

You will usually notice the results after a Tumescent liposuction within ten to thirty days. Improvement, however, continues for up to one year.

Tumescent liposuction can be repeated. There is a limit to the amount of fat which can be removed during any one session of Tumescent liposuction. In some instances the patient may want to have more removed at another time. If someone has several areas to treat, sometimes it is better to treat them at separate times. It is our custom to wait approximately 3 months between Tumescent liposuction procedures.

Tumescent Liposuction Cost & Insurance

Compared to other liposuction methods Tumescent liposuction is regarded as a fairly low cost procedure.

The cost of the Tumescent liposuction procedure depends upon several factors, including the sites selected, and special circumstances which may surround a particular case. Cost associates with a Tumescent liposuction may include initial consultation, surgery, follow-up visits, facility use, compression garments, anesthesia and pre-operative laboratory tests.

Tumescent liposuction is considered a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by medical insurance plans. However most physicians offer financing and payment plans in order to help their patients afford a Tumescent liposuction.

Are You Considering Tumescent Liposuction?

Thousands of people, just like you are now considering tumescent liposuction to safely and thoroughly transform their image and remove localized, excess fat. Perhaps you or someone close to you is considering tumescent liposuction to improve his or her physical appearance. This is an important decision and Tumescent Liposuction Guide is the authority site on the Tumescent Liposuction procedure.

Tumescent liposuction involves the removal of unwanted bulges created by excess localized fat deposits. A relatively new procedure, tumescent liposuction has become one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures. When performed by an experienced and skilled physician, it is safe and the results can be quite dramatic.

ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com