The tumescent technique was developed in 1985. It uses large volumes of a dilute solution of Lidocaine, a local anesthetic, in combination with the vasoconstrictive drug epinephrine, which shrinks capillaries. Local anesthesia used in the tumescent technique for liposuction and other surgeries, is so effective tat patients no longer need intravenous sedatives, narcotic analgesics, nor general anesthesia. This technique is now considered the safest form of many cosmetic surgeries since there is no blood loss.
Not only has the tumescent technique proven to be safer than the standard technique using general anesthesia, but it also has proven to be less painful, has minimized post operative recovery time, and produced optimal cosmetic results.
With the tumescent technique infiltrating the local anesthesia is associated wit minimal discomfort. Once the area has been completely numbed, surgery in the area is essentially painless. In addition, because the local anesthesia persist in the treated area for more than 12 hours, there is no pain immediately after surgery.
Eliminating general or intravenous anesthesia has made cosmetic procedures safer and easier for the patient as the after-effects of anesthesia are also eliminated. The surgical fees are typically lower than those done under general anesthesia, as there are no anesthesia fees. Also, this method results in markedly reduced or no bleeding. There are no confirmed cases of any patient loss using this method.
THE TUMESCENT TECHNIQUE
The Tumescent Technique of liposuction was developed in 1985. The Tumescent Technique uses large volumes of dilute solution of lidocaine, a local anesthetic, in combination with the vasoconstrictive drug epinephrine, which shrinks capillaries. Local anesthesia used in the Tumescent Technique for liposuction is so effective that patients no longer need intravenous sedatives narcotic analgesics nor general anesthesia. This technique is now considered the safest from of liposuction for removing very large amounts of fat because there is virtually no blood loss. Not only has the Tumescent Technique proven to be safer than the standard technique using general anesthesia, but it also has proven o be less painful, has minimized post operative recovery time, and has produced optimal cosmetic results.
With the Tumescent Technique infiltrating the local anesthesia is associated with minimal discomfort. Once the area has been completely numbed, surgery in the area is essentially painless. In addition, because the local anesthesia persists in the treated area for more than 12 hours, there is no pain immediately after the surgery.
RISKS WITH ANY SURGERY
As with any surgery procedure, liposuction is associated with certain common side effects, such as bruising, swelling and temporally numbness; although irregularities of the skin area possible following liposuction, these side effects are minimized by Tumescent Technique. When larger cannulas are used, occasionally there are patients with an irregularity of the skin. Since micro cannulas became available, noticeable irregularities are very rare. Due to the slow resolution of post surgical swelling, the ultimate results following liposuction usually require 12-16 weeks to become fully apparent. Nevertheless, patients can usually see dramatic improvements within 2-4 weeks after surgery. Although the results of liposuction are often quite spectacular, it is not realistic to expect perfection. Liposuction of the thighs while improving the silhouette does not necessarily eliminate the subtle “cellulite”. Liposuction with the Tumescent Technique does reduce the degree of cellulite but is unlikely to eliminate it.
Rare problems that can potentially occur with any surgical procedure include infections, bleeding and nerve injury, the Tumescent Technique minimizes these risks.
DECREASED RISK OF INFECTION WITH TUMESCENT TECHNIQUE
Infections are extremely rare, irrespective of whether or not the anesthetic technique is that of general anesthesia or local anesthesia. Although there have been reports in the medical literature of patients who have had serious infections following liposuction surgery, to the best of our knowledge, there have never been any patients who have had an infection following liposuction totally by local anesthesia using the Tumescent Technique.
Lidocaine, the local anesthetic that is used for the Tumescent Technique kills bacteria. With the Tumescent Technique the areas that are being treated surgically are exactly the areas that will receive the local anesthetic which kills bacteria.
QUICK RETURN TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES
Due to the significant decrease in the swelling and decrease in inflammation and pain after the surgery, patients are able to return to normal physical activities very soon after surgery. There is no limitation to physical activity other than what common sense would dictate. Some patients are able to return to jogging, golf, or light aerobic exercise within a day or two after surgery. On the average most patients are quite surprised to how quickly they can return to normal activity.
BETTER AND SMOOTHER RESULTS
With the Tumescent Technique, very small cannulas are used. This permits a more delicate and gentle approach to liposuction. As a result, this surgery is much more gentle and the surgeon can control the direction and position of the cannula with much more accuracy. The ultimate result is a greatly reduced risk of inadvertently approching to close to the underface of the skin and unintentionally causing irregularities. Since the Tumescent Technique uses very small cannulas, only tiny incisions are required. These incisions are so small that no stitches are used. The wounds heal by themselves and virtually disappear with time. By not using stitches to close incision sites, there is acceleration in the rate of healing. Open incision sites permit drainage of the slightly blood tinged anesthetic solution. This has had a dramatic effect in minimizing bruising. Most patients now notice that bruising is almost entirely absent one week after surgery.
