Is Tumescent Liposuction Safe?

Sympathy for surgical fat removal procedure has increased over time and today liposuction is the most popular cosmetic surgery technique of all. The newest and most successful procedure is called tumescent liposuction. Before this new technique was invented, a liposuction did lead to so much blood loss that even blood transfusions were necessary during the surgery.




Liposuction was performed in the sixties already where Italian surgeons invented the procedure of using a cannula. As the number of surgeries increased over decades, the safety of the procedure could be increased significantly. Complications with tumescent liposuction are minimal today. The risk of death is near to zero and the risk of infection is below 0.6%.




A tumescent liposuction uses local anesthesia and a small micro cannula. The smaller cannula is more effective than the large traditional one and causes also less damage. It is also less painful. Less blood loss is one of the biggest advantages.




The popularity and the success of the tumescent liposuction surgery make people believe that it is a great weight loss strategy or a replacement for exercise and diet. This is not true. It is true that liposuction works great if the patient has not more than 20 pounds overweight and has a very good health condition. For all other people the risk of complications increases and also the risk that the outcome is not like desired. Another common misbelief is that it can remove cellulite.




How does a tumescent liposuction work? The plastic surgeon first applies a disinfectant to the skin. Thereafter he uses a marking pen to draw a map onto your skin that helps him to find the prefect places for the incisions. Under a local anesthetic the surgeon inserts a small cannula to remove the fat. First though, he a delivers a tumescent anesthetic through the infusion catheter under the skin.




The swelling is the biggest problem after the surgery but it will go back each day. You should move and not lie around. This increases the blood flow and your wounds will heal faster. Compression garments which you will have to wear for a few days will also help. After the swelling disappears you will see the outcome of the surgery the first time. The scars will also disappear over time.




All in all, if you are a good candidate then tumescent liposuction surgery is a great and safe way of quick and efficient fat removal. The risk for most complications lies below 2%. If you choose an experienced surgeon then you can be pretty sure that you will be very satisfied with the results. Do not forget though that it is also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle after the surgery.