Tumescent
Liposuction
Tumescent liposuction, also
called liposculpture, is a vast improvement over
traditional liposuction. The physician "inflates"
the patient's fat with a diluted local anesthetic
before he/she vacuums it out in a process called
suction aspiration. This eliminates risks
associated with the general anesthesia used in
traditional liposuction.
Tumescent liposuction can safely remove undesired fat from nearly
all body areas including the face, neck, chin, breast, abdomen,
hips, flanks (love handles), back, inner and outer thighs, buttocks,
knees, calves, and ankles. It also is an effective treatment for
certain non-cosmetic conditions such as lipomas (benign fatty
tumors), enlarged male and female breasts, and excessive underarm
sweating.
Tumescent liposuction is
an outpatient procedure, avoiding a costly
hospital stay. Since the patient remains
awake during the surgery, the dermatologic surgeon
can ask him/her to change positions which leads to
better sculpting of the targeted areas.
Using the tumescent method, all
liposuction cases can be performed entirely with
local anesthesia. The treated area can remain numb
for up to 24 hours, greatly reducing
post-operative discomfort.
Another major
advantage of the
anesthesia used in the tumescent procedure is
that it practically eliminates blood loss
by
constricting (tightening) blood vessels. In
traditional liposuction, no such agents are used,
with patients sometimes experiencing significant
bleeding and even needing blood transfusions.
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Men and women can
accumulate excess fat that is not easily shed by exercise and diet.
Extensive surgery was usually required to remove stubborn fatty
deposits; however, in the early 1980s, dermatologic surgeons
pioneered liposuction techniques and developed tumescent liposuction
which changed surgical fat removal completely.
What is tumescent liposuction and its benefits?
Tumescent liposuction involves the use of a diluted solution of
local anesthetic and other medications to fill the fatty layer of
the skin prior to removing the excess fat. This causes the tissue to
become swollen and firm, allowing for excellent control. General
anesthesia is not required, eliminating potential complications. The
result is a sculpting of bulging areas into more attractive
contours.
Tumescent liposuction has an unprecedented safety profile, and
allows dermatologic surgeons to efficiently remove both deep and
superficial excess layers of fat with little discomfort, faster
recovery, and improved cosmetic results. Patients see fewer skin
irregularities, less bleeding, and reduced bruising.
What are the risks?
Like all surgery, liposuction carries both benefits and risks.
Tumescent liposuction has few significant side effects when
performed by a qualified dermatologic surgeon. Infrequent minor
complications such as skin irregularity, lumpiness, dimpling, loose
skin, numbness, infections, and objectionable scarring, which is
rare, may occur and are usually easily corrected.
When is liposuction indicated?
Liposuction is most effective for removing localized fat deposits
that do not respond to diet or exercise. It is not intended as a
substitute for weight loss; rather, it is a contouring procedure,
and is optimally utilized in a program of exercise and weight
maintenance. The best results are obtained in body areas where there
is reasonable muscle tone, good skin elasticity, and fat is not
excessive. In cases where there is a significant loss of tone and
elasticity, the desired cosmetic results may require both
liposuction and surgical skin tightening to remove excessive loose
tissue.
What happens prior to surgery?
A complete medical history is taken and a physical examination is
conducted in order to evaluate the patient's condition. During the
consultation, the dermatologic surgeon describes the procedure and
the expected results. Alternative treatment options are reviewed
along with the possible risks and potential complications.
Photographs are frequently taken before and after surgery.
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