Liposuction has become the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure in the United States. Since it was first introduced in the United States in the early 1980s, many refinements have been made. The most significant improvement was the use of a diluted local anesthetic instead of general anesthesia. This improvement is referred to as the tumescent technique.
The tumescent technique utilizes natural saline solution containing a precise amount of very local anesthetic (lidocaine) which is injected into the fatty tissue. The injected area then becomes anesthetized.
With the tumescent technique, liposuction patients need no general anesthesia, as contrasted with the traditional/standard liposuction methods, which do require general anesthesia with intubation, or deep intravenous sedation.
The word "tumescent" means "swollen and firm." By injecting a large volume of very diluted lidocaine (local anesthetic) and epinephrine (capillary constrictor) into subcutaneous fat, the targeted tissue becomes swollen and firm, or tumescent and anesthesized.
The tumescent technique is a method that provides local anesthesia to large volumes of subcutaneous fat and thus permits liposuction totally by local anesthesia. The tumescent technique eliminates both the need for general anesthesia and need for IV narcotics and sedatives.
The tumescent technique for liposuction:
- Provides local anesthesia
- Constricts capillaries and prevents surgical blood loss
- Provides fluid to the body by subcutaneous injection so that no IV fluids are needed
- Has the best post-op pain control.
Hope that helps.
Dr. Sofie
