How common is blood loss or fluid loss during abdominal lipo under local anesthesia, awake?

Blood loss has not been an issue with liposuction after the tumescent technique was developed about 20 years ago.  The tumescent technique involves infiltrating a fluid within the tissues that has epinephrine in it.  This causes the vessels to constrict so much that the fat that comes out through the tubing is yellow while the old technique yield red or blood with fat.In your case the cannula may have directly tore a large vessel in the tissues. This would eventually cause dark bruising and swelling.

Blood loss should be very minimal assuming your surgeon uses a solution to minimize bleeding and is skilled at doing the procedure.  Plastic surgeons would typically always use this. I would ensure that you are seeing a plastic surgeon for your liposuction and not some other form of "cosmetic surgeon" that actually is not trained as a plastic surgeon.Dr Rodger ShorttOakville Plastic SurgeonAssistant Clinical Professor &Director of Cosmetic Surgery Training,McMaster University

Thanks for the question. Blood loss is very minimal during liposuction. It is uncommon using the tumescent technique.

Blood loss is very uncommon during liposuction when performed by an experienced surgeon regardless of the type of anesthesia.

Blood loss during standard liposuction is usually minimal .  Fluid often drains or is absorbed by the body.  

Hi.Thanks for the question. Blood loss is uncommon with a liposuction using the tumescent technique and varies with the amount of fat removed . It does not matter the type of anesthesia used.Look for a board certified plastic surgeon.All the Best!!Dr. Brenda Pache.

Hello. Blood loss during abdominal liposuction while awake is usually performed with tumescent anesthesia which minimizes blood loss by making your blood vessels constrict and thus less of a target for the liposuction cannula. The procedure can be quite safe. Good luck. Dr. B

Thank you for your question. Liposuction can be done in an office setting under extremely safe conditions to treat small areas. Blood loss is actually extremely small. You will swell quite a bit afterward. The firm areas you are finding are also a very common part of the healing process. Follow up w/ your surgeon, and I'm sure you will be pleased.

Blood loss is extremely uncommon with a liposuction procedure using the tumescent technique. It does not matter the type of anesthesia used. What does matter under local is the number of areas to be treated, the amount of fat to be removed, the health of the patient, and the tolerance of the patient to some pain. Fluid loss can be an issue if large volumes of fat are to be removed. Your height and weight point to a healthy BMI with likely small collections of fat. It can be done, but you need to discuss this with your surgeon as both you and the surgeon need to be very comfortable proceeding with this under local anesthesia.

Dear foreveryoung908,

The use of tumescent anesthesia and
gentle liquification techniques such as SmartLipo, BodyTite and Vaser Lipo
minimize the risk of blood or fluid loss during small zone abdominal
liposuction. Awake liposuction performed
under oral sedation and tumescent anesthesia is extremely safe. With modern techniques it would be
exceedingly unlikely bordering on relative risk seeing one in one hundred
thousand that you would achieve any kind of significant blood or fluid
loss. That is not to say that there is
not some fluid egress following abdominal liposuction and quite commonly there
is a very small drain to remove the tumescent fluid and any inflammatory that
ensues. However, this is not life
threatening and in general abdominal liposuction is an extremely safe
procedure.

I would seek out a liposuction
surgeon with years of experience particularly in techniques that minimize
trauma such as laser lipolysis or SmartLipo, BodyTite or Vaser Lipo. I’m sure you’ll get an excellent result as
you’ve been investigating this very carefully online, you certainly are aware
of all the risks and recovery associated with this type of procedure.

I hope this information is of some
assistance and best of luck.

To find out more, please visit the
link below and also visit the BodyTite and Vaser Lipo sections.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto