How long is tumescent suppose to stay in for on a smart lipo procedure? (photo)

After the area is injected with the tumescent fluid containing epinephrine to reduce the bleeding and bruising, and lidocaine to give pain relief during and after the surgery, the surgeon should wait 10 minutes prior to proceeding with liposuction.

The time it takes for tumescent anesthesia to take effect depends on the concentration of the mixture and the skill with which it is injected. If the fat is soft, I can usually start the lipo immediately without waiting. However, if the fat is dense, fibrous or full of adhesions from previous surgery, letting it sit for a while allows the tissues to soften and I'll let it sit for 15-30 minutes. Anything longer than that is overkill and a waste of time. The time it takes to remove the fat depends on the size and style of the suction cannulas, the density of the fat, and the amount of fat in the area. These factors vary greatly. In my hands, an abdomen takes 15-30 minutes, flanks and back both sides take 45-90 minutes. High definition sculpting, muscle etching, etc takes longer.

This an insightful question. Tumescent fluid is sterile saline or salt water that is carefully injected into the subcutaneous (below the skin) fat space in order to 1. carry lidocaine to numb the area 2. carry epinephrine to constrict the blood vessels and reduce bruising, and 3. provide a larger, safer aqueous or watery medium or workspace in order for the liposuction to work best (liposuction works on the principle that fat is slightly less dense than water so that it is preferentially removed from an area when suction is applied). While it takes time for the medicines to work optimally, when SmartLipo is done in the awake patient, the tumescent fluid is injected very slowly and carefully to ensure that it isn't painful. The time that it takes to do this (about 20 minutes or more) is more than sufficient to get excellent analgesia or numbness so that the next steps of laser-ing and suction are painless. As for time, it takes about 45 to 60 minutes per area for SmartLipo to be done in the awake patient or however much time it takes to get the best result. I hope this relatively long explanation is helpful and good luck.

Thanks for the question, I leave the fluid for about 25-30 minutes as this is when the epinephrine peaks (reduces bleeding and bruising) the numbing lasts 4-6 hours and a typical case takes me 2 hours from when you walk in until you walk out!

Because of the unparalleled safety record for tumescent liposuction, there are many doctors who try to say they do tumescent liposuction, while in fact they are simply doing a fake version of it.  Tumescent liposuction was invented by a dermatologist who realized that any form of sedation, whether it was semi-conscious or general anesthesia, led to potential problems.Generally, when I hear that someone is ready to perform liposuction within 'minutes', that means they are misinterpreting the concept of tumescent or, even worse, misleading patients in order to make it seem they are performing tumescent.  If you are getting the real deal you will have little or no bruising and be able to go back to work the next day.  Additionally, you won't have to have any anesthetic other than a sleeping pill prior to the procedure such as Dalmane.  That's all.  Sadly, there are many plastic surgeons who attempt to say they are doing the real deal when they aren't at all.  Dermatologists who perform tumescent are usually the ones that offer the 'true' tumescent experience, although that can vary as well.Good luck!

Hi Hello2me and thanks for your questions. Tumescent fluid can be left in the area to be treated for 15-20 minutes prior to liposuction and provide excellent anesthesia. Smartlipo procedures vary regarding treatment times.  For example treatment of the abdomen and flanks can take up to 2-3 hours depending upon the your size. 

The anesthetic effect of lidocaine and epinephrine will not require an hour to work properly.  It also depends upon if you are having it done with or without anesthesia.

     Realistically, it takes about 20-30 minutes to slowly and comfortably infuse a single area with tumescent fluid, followed by some massaging to evenly distribute the fluid. The actual treatment of the area with two different blended wavelengths of the laser for both fat disruption and then skin tightening can easily take twice as long for each area. SmartLipo properly done is time consuming compared to traditional liposuction but the recovery and end results are far superior, in my opinion.Best, Scott A. Brenman, M.D., F.A.C.S.Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

sounds like one person was doing it with you awake and the other was doing it under some form of sedation. With sedation about 10 minutes for the epinephrine to work is usually sufficient. With you awake quiet a bit longer for the full anesthetic effect of the Xylocaine. Hope this helps.