Though liposuction has been around since the seventies advanced techniques for performing it are relatively new. Tumescent liposuction is one of those newer liposuction methods that are being recommended to patients. Liposuction used to be a very invasive process where a patient needed post operative blood transfusions. This of course led to higher risks for the patient and increased the recovery time needed after the surgery. Thankfully, there have been many advancements in liposuction particularly in the methods and tools used for the surgery. Tumescent liposuction is a popular option.

The Tumescent Procedure Itself

Tumescent liposuction is liposuction that is usually performed under local anesthesia. General anesthesia can be risky in some patients so this is a big seller. During the procedure, areas of excess fat are injected with a large amount of anesthetic liquid(lidocaine, epinephrine and intravenous fluid) before liposuction is performed. The liquid causes the areas of fat to become swollen and firm otherwise known as “tumesced.” The expanded fat compartments allow the liposuction cannula to travel smoothly beneath the skin as the fat is removed resulting in less bruising and blood loss.

Though this procedure is less invasive doctors still recommend that you fit a certain profile. Liposuction, even tumescent liposuction, is still surgery and therefore can not be taken lightly.

The Ideal Tumescent Liposuction Candidate

As with liposuction in general, tumescent liposuction is for those people who are already physically fit. The best profile is a patient who has small areas of fat deposits. They have tried conventional means like diet and exercise without any results. Generally you have to have a physical from your own doctor approving you for the surgery. Sometimes a consultation with a psychologist is advised to make sure you understand why you are choosing liposuction and to make sure you set the right expectations for yourself.

The tumescent liposuction technique isn’t the only advanced method available to you when it comes to liposuction. Please be sure to ask your doctor about the super-wet technique which is similar to tumescent liposuction. Depending on what part of the body you are having the liposuction this may be a better option for you. You should also ask about Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction which uses energy to liquefy the fat.

Due to the popularity of cosmetic surgery today advances are being made regularly. Tumescent liposuction definitely was a leap forward for prospective patients. If you are prepared to do your homework and ask the right questions liposuction may be your ticket to the body you can’t seem to get on the strength of diet and exercise alone.



By: Rebecca Knight

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With all the improvements in liposuction technology and techniques that have evolved in the past thirty years or so, you can have liposuction done on pretty much any body area.

Originally, in the early 1980s, liposuction was done on the abdomen. To reduce bleeding and remove larger amounts of fat with less discomfort, tumescent liposuction was developed, where large volumes of fluid are first injected. The fluid is a saline solution (salty to match the body’s saltiness) with ingredients to shrink blood vessels and anesthetize the area. Then high-powered suction removed fluid and fat together.

That enabled people to have fatty tissue removed from much of the lower body:

· Abdomen

· Thighs

· Buttocks

· Flanks

A remaining problem was that some body areas have more fibrous fatty tissue which is harder to suction out. Examples are the back, chest and hips. In efforts to solve this problem, ultrasonic liposuction was developed in the early 1990s.

Ultrasound (vibration with sound beyond our hearing range) is used to break the fibrous cell membranes, emulsifying the fat before it is removed by suction. This approach has the added benefits of reduced bleeding and bruising, and smaller incisions because the cannulas used to remove fat are narrower. Ultrasound also helps the skin shrink over the reduced body area.

Ultrasonic liposuction is effectively used for both males and females in:

· ****** reduction

· Love handles

· Fat removal from the upper back

SmartLipo™

SmartLipo, also called laser liposuction, uses a laser to dissolve fat instead of suctioning it out of the body. This is a very different procedure from tumescent or ultrasonic liposuction, although the goal is the same. The targeted area is given local anesthetic and a very small incision is made. The laser is a hand-held device like a pen, inserted beneath the skin and moved so as to target the designated treatment areas. When the laser light is directed to fat cells, they break up instantly. The fatty fluid thus released is naturally excreted by the body’s lymphatic system.

As with all procedures using medical lasers, there is the added benefit that the laser seals the blood vessels, reducing bruising, and reducing bleeding to virtually none. It also tightens the skin’s collagen, causing the skin to shrink more tightly over the reduced body area. This is especially helpful on ****** areas.

Because of the greater precision and subtlety of laser liposuction, smaller body areas can be treated, such as:

· Below the chin

· Face

· Knees

· Waist

· Neck

· Arms

All liposuction procedures are customized. If you are wondering about your own particular areas of excess fat and whether they can be treated with some form of liposuction, the first step would be to schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon.

If you are in the Indianapolis, Indiana area, you could not do better than to see Dr. Richard Linderman. He has been in the vanguard of liposuction improvements since 1982 and was the first cosmetic surgeon to offer liposuction in Indianapolis.



By: Patricia Woloch

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