Tumescent liposuction procedure for massive fat removal

Tumescent liposuction is a form of liposuction that is used for removing very large amounts of fat. Tumescent is a word that means swollen or hard and it applies to this form of liposuction because a great deal of fluid is injected into the site. In order to understand what tumescent liposuction is you first need to understand what entails the basic liposuction procedure.

Liposuction is a procedure that removes fat from unwanted areas of the body. The device that is used, called a cannula, resembles a tiny tubular vacuum cleaner. As it actually removes mass and volume from the body it is an effective way to change the body’s shape and contour. The purpose of a treatment with liposuction is mainly to sculpt the body by removing some of the excess fat. The fat that exists within the body may also be pushed and reshaped using the cannula, which is like a prodding device. Liposuction is best for targeting problem areas.

In a standard operation, the plastic surgeon makes an incision on the appropriate area on the body and the area beneath the skin is flushed out with lidocaine (a local anesthetic), saline (salt water) and epinephrine (a drug that narrows blood vessels and prevents bleeding during surgery.) Then fatty tissue (known as fascia) is suctioned out from beneath the skin’s surface. Depending on how large the area is to be vacuumed by the cannula, the patient may have skin removed or “pulled up” surgery and secured by surgical stitches.

The tumescent technique of liposuction is now considered the safest form of plastic surgery for removing very large amounts of fat because there is virtually no blood loss. Tumescent liposuction or tumescent liposculpture also eliminates the necessity for general anesthesia as the treatment is localized. The less bleeding there is the less likely there is to be infection and the epinephrine reduces the capillary size so there is less swelling. The sophistication of the procedure makes tumescent liposuction cost little more than a minor liposuction.

Another benefit of tumescent liposuction is that it is less painful than the tradition “cut and stitch” form of plastic surgery. Patients no longer need intravenous sedatives, narcotics, or general anesthesia. It has proved extremely successful when it comes to removing large amounts of fat from the thighs, belly and stomach areas. Formerly, these operations required heavy narcotic use during the recuperative stage. The fact that tumescent liposuction is a procedure that does not require narcotics makes it a viable option for people who have a history of drug addiction.

Not only does tumescent liposuction surgery reduce pain after the procedure, there is also less pain during the procedure. The patient that is awake is also more helpful to the surgeon as he or she can maneuver their body into different positions during the body contouring. Sometimes standing or sitting up is required of the patient to achieve the optimum results.

Like all plastic surgery, tumescent liposuction procedure does come with some serious risks including the risk of bruising, bleeding, disfiguration, scars and infection. Also, if the plastic surgeon’s use of the cannula is too aggressive, it can cause permanent dimpling and depressions in the skin.

The ideal candidate for liposuction is an individual who is good health and be overweight by more than 25%. A conscientious plastic surgeon will not remove more than 10% of body fat from anywhere on the body as doing so could seriously risk your life.

Liposuction is also not recommended for obese individuals who are over 50% of their body weight. A weight management program would be prescribed for these individuals instead.

Individuals with AIDS or a serious underlying disease such as cancer may be discouraged from having this type of plastic surgery. Liposuction is also risky for individuals with vascular, heart or nerve problems. If you are a smoker you will be advised to quit smoking before you have the operation to minimize the risk of bleeding and to expedite healing.

It is also important to have realistic expectations about tumescent liposuction. Although it removes fat, it might lead to sagging skin. It is very hard to determine whether or not skin that has been traumatized by surgery will tighten or not. Sometimes a second operation is required after six months or so to tone up the results.