Houston Tumescent Liposuction doctors

Tumescent and the machine used to harvest the fat are two different things. Tumescent is a fluid that is injected into the fat prior to liposuction. It contains several medications (epinephrine and lidocaine) to decrease bleeding and control pain. It is a standard surgical technique that is done in any liposuction procedure regardless of the machine used to remove the fat. Most surgeons use tumescent solution because it decreases the amount of blood that is lost during the liposuction procedure. 

Universally, it is well accepted that losing too much blood damages or impairs the fat that is transferred. You want to maximize the removal of fat while at the same time minimize the  bleeding and diminish the blood that is “sucked out”.

Any reputable plastic surgeon will use tumescent solution prior to liposuction. Once the fat is removed, it is processed by removing most of the tumescent solution, blood, and oil. The fat is injected in the deficient areas to recreate a harmonious buttock. Tumescence will not determine if the fat is going to disappear or not; instead, this is determined by the surgical technique, the fat processing technique, and the surgeon’s experience.
 

2 weeks after tumescent liposuction, it is expected to be swollen, bruised and tender in some areas. It is too early to start massaging because you are right, it is too painful! The best thing that you can do for now is to just wear your compression garment. At 6 weeks, that would be ideal to start getting massages if need be.

With the ever evolving subject of liposuction, I find it difficult to define normal technique.   Liposuction was initially described for cosmetic surgery in 1978 by french plastic surgeon, Dr. Ilouz.  This involved use of large bore cannulas to suction fat.   Larger volumes of liposuction would cause significant blood loss and fluid shifts.

Dr. Jeffrey Klein and Dr. Patrick Lillis described tumescent liposuction in 1985.   This involved injecting fluid into the fat deposits that contain a vasoconstrictor and numbing medicine.  This was believed to decrease blood loss and improve pain control, while making the fat easier to suction.   

This tumescent technique is now utilized universally by almost all liposuction surgeons.   Different formulas and concentrations of tumescent solution are utilized, but the concept remains the same.   

Tumescent liposuction is now frequently used in awake/office based liposuction procedures, as well as standard outpatient surgery liposuction procedures.

Frequently liposuction may need to be combined with another procedure to provide the ideal contour to your concerning area.  

A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon is trained to provide you with the best options.