Liposuction by Dr. Susan Hughes | What Is Tumescent Liposuction Surgery?
What Should I Expect? | What Really Happens With Liposuction Treatments?
Liposuction
Liposuction by Dr. Susan Hughes
In ’94, the fluid filled tumescent anesthesia technique was invented. Liposuction is now much safer when done in the office with little or no anesthesia. It is 113x safer than with the traditional wet or superwet technique. Thus the procedure has been improved dramatically and can be used on many areas of the body.
What Is Tumescent Liposuction Surgery?
LIPOSUCTION: the new way
Liposuction is the removal of unwanted bulges created by excess localized fat deposits. Tumescent Liposuction is a new technique using fluid infusion of local anesthesia with tiny cannulas through tiny incisions enabling the surgery to be done in the office without intravenous or general anesthesia, less pain and less downtime.
The large amount and type of numbing fluid injected minimizes the risk of bleeding, postoperative irregularities of the skin, and allows more fat to be removed. There is virtually no blood loss. Less than 1 tablespoon of blood is lost for every 2 quarts of fat. The local anesthetic injected with this technique lasts 18 hours and the discomfort that patients feel is soreness similar to what would be felt after a day of vigorous exercise. This means that nothing more than Tylenol products are used postoperatively.
The recovery time varies with the number of areas treated and the type of activity the patient intends to resume. Most patients can return to work and light exercise one to two days after surgery, although a week off is more pleasant. Bruising lasts 1 to 2 weeks. Vigorous exercise can be resumed in 10-14 days.
What Should I Expect?
LIPOSUCTION:Liposuction will be able to improve your shape, but it is not a method of weight loss. Your clothing size usually remains the same, but because your body has been sculpted you will look and feel better in your clothes. You may still not look ideal in bathing suits.
If you have cellulite type of skin, it will not disappear with liposuction. You can expect improvement but not perfection. Maintaining your new physique requires diet and exercise forever.
What Really Happens With Liposuction Treatments?
Liposuction is the removal of unwanted bulges created by excess localized fat deposits. Tumescent liposuction is a new technique using fluid infusion of local anethesia with tiny cannulas through tiny incisions enabling the surgery to be done in the office without intravenous or general anesthesia.
The large amounts of fluids injected minimize the risk of postoperative irregularities to the skin, and more importantly more fat is able to be removed. The local anesthetic injected with this technique lasts 18 hours and the discomfort that patients feel is soreness similar to what would be felt after a day of vigorous exercise. This means that nothing more than Tylenol products are used postoperatively.
The recovery time varies with the number of areas treated and the type of activity the patient intends to resume. Most patients can return ot work and light exercise one to two days after surgery, although a week off is more pleasant.
Bruising lasts 1 to 2 weeks. Vigorous exercise can be resumed in 3 to 4 weeks. Recovery is 3 to 4 times faster than with the traditional technique, allows more fat removal and is much safer.
After outlining the bulging area, the skin is numbed and multiple tiny incisions are made. A very thin pencil like cannula is then inserted through each incision and an anesthetic (Lidocaine) is infused into this localized area.
When the anesthesia takes effect (30-45 minutes), the suction cannula, which is attached to a high vacuum suction machine, is inserted through each incision. The cannula is moved in a criss-cross fashion, evenly vacuuming away the fat so as to provide a more even appearance post operatively.
The fat is vacuumed away into a sterile container. Each incision site drains blood tinged anesthesia fluid and some liquid fat over the next day. The incisions do not require sutures. Elastic support garments are required for one week, although brief removal for showers is permitted. Longer garment wear is beneficial.
