Liposuction as a technique has been around for almost three decades. During that time, many techniques have been changed and improved. One of the most important changes in the history of liposuction was contributed by dermatologist, Dr. Jeffrey Klein in 1985. At that time, he unveiled what has become commonly known as “tumescent anesthesia”.
In tumescent anesthesia, fluids are infiltrated directly into the area to be treated. The fluids are made up of a saline solution, lidocaine (a local anesthetic that you have probably heard most often associated with dentists), and epinephrine (which makes blood vessels tighten up). This solution “plumps” up the treatment area, making it easier to reduce unwanted fat while greatly minimizing blood loss *.
In addition, by injecting the solution directly into the treatment site, the technique avoids the need for general anesthesia and sedatives, reducing all the risks associated with it.
Tumescent liposuction is a safe method of liposuction. Nevertheless, many physicians still take patients to the operating room to do procedures on under general anesthesia. Most of the time, this is simply because that physician was not adequately trained in the tumescent technique and does not know how to make the procedure comfortable for the awake patient. Our doctor was trained in this technique and he utilizes several types of liposuction including laser liposuction and Waterlipo™.
Patients who choose to have awake liposuction with tumescent technique can expect much less pain and discomfort than with traditional liposuction methods and far less bruising and recovery time. This is due to the effectiveness of the tumescent solution in reducing pain, bleeding and swelling. The downtime is typically less than 24 hours.
Results of any kind of liposuction can be maintained with proper diet and exercise. In some cases, even when patients have subsequently gained weight, fat is more evenly distributed.
If you are interested in reducing those annoying “love handles” or fat located in other areas, e-mail us or call 847-807-4096 to schedule a consultation today.
* results may vary – (disclaimer)
