Q: What is tumescent liposuction?
A: Tumescent liposuction uses local anesthesia and possible additions of anti-anxiety pills or intramuscular analgesics. It does not use general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. Tumescence, which is derived from a Latin word meaning “swelling” and is used medically to indicate a firm swelling, refers to the anesthetic that is used. This tumescent anesthetic causes swelling in the fatty tissue, minimizes blood loss, and allows patients to remain awake during the procedure so they can interact with their surgeons.
Q: What are the major areas of the body that can be treated with tumescent liposuction?
A: The areas most frequently treated are the neck, arms, inner folds under the arms, upper back, belly, hips, thighs, buttocks, and the “love handles” and breasts (reduction) in men.
Q: Is the tumescent liposuction procedure completely safe?
tumescent liposuction before and after
A: Tumescent liposuction is extremely safe when you consider that it is the number-one cosmetic surgical procedure in the country. It does have some risks. There is not one surgical procedure that is without risks, but when it is performed on the proper candidate by an experienced physician using the proper technique, it is a very safe procedure. Not one fatality has been reported using pure tumescent liposuction.
Q: Do liposuction patients feel pain during the procedure?
A: Very rarely. Tumescent liposuction is done with local anesthetic. There may occasionally be some slight discomfort during the procedure, but there is no pain. In fact, a recent survey found that approximately three-quarters of liposuction patients who were questioned a week after surgery reported that they felt no discomfort at all during their procedure. Doctors vary in how they do the procedure and may provide no further medication, an anxiety-reducing pill, injections of painkillers, or sedatives.
However, not all doctors use the tumescent technique. Other doctors prefer to add general anesthesia or intravenous sedation, which means the patient may be completely unconscious during the procedure.
Q: Can you describe the best candidates for tumescent liposuction?
A: Ideal candidates are those from their late 20s to their 50s who are not more than 10 or 20 pounds overweight and who do not have generalized obesity, meaning that the areas they want to reduce are clearly defined. These individuals should be healthy, involved in a regular exercise program, and have a diet that is well balanced. They should not be taking any medication at the time of surgery that interferes with the metabolism of me local anesthetic. They should not have any disease that can increase the risk of local anesthetic toxicity or systemic infection, such as diabetes, liver disease, and certain heart conditions. And women should not be pregnant or nursing when they have liposuction.
Q: What kinds of expectations should ideal candidates have?
A: It’s very important to have realistic expectations when you undergo liposuction. You cannot expect to have a huge weight loss or go down several dress sizes. You have to realize that skin texture is not usually affected by liposuction, so cellulite, dimpling, and depressions will usually not improve. You should be aware that even though fat will be removed, you may only sense the difference after surgery by how your clothes fit, not by looking at your body, especially if only a small amount was removed.
Realistic patients have self-confidence and self-esteem and want to get rid of that last bulge because they realize they can’t do it with diet and exercise. But they don’t believe that once the unwanted fat is gone, their marital problems will disappear, their partner will finally propose, or they will be able to get a better job or a raise at work. In other words, tumescent liposuction patients should not think of the procedure as a miracle-worker, but rather as a way to improve the contour of their bodies. They might not come out looking “perfect,” but they will see a real improvement.