What is Tumescent Liposuction?
The first method of surgical fat removal to be developed involved a few incisions and insertion of a small tube, or cannula. The cannula, attached to a vacuum device, would be moved back and forth beneath the skin to break apart and extract localized fat. Tumescent liposuction follows the same general process but includes an extra step.
When Dr. Krummen performs tumescent liposuction, she infuses fatty tissue with a wetting solution, or tumescent fluid. This solution is made of salt water, local anesthetic, and adrenaline. This infusion encourages blood vessels to shrink and decreases sensation. The standard tumescent liposuction procedure introduces as much as six-times more fluid than the volume of fat in the treatment area. By adding fluid before removing fat, we gain the following benefits:
- Maximum comfort. Because tumescent solution contains an anesthetic, many liposuction procedures can be performed with mild sedation instead of general anesthesia.
- Reduced bleeding. The adrenaline (or epinephrine) in tumescent fluid shrinks the capillaries that surround fat tissue. When they are only a fraction of their average size, these blood vessels release very little blood. According to studies, as little as one- to two tablespoons of blood may be lost during tumescent liposuction.
- Mild recovery. There will still be a bit of downtime after tumescent liposuction. Bruising and swelling still occur, but these side effects are much more subtle than standard liposuction due to the ease of the fat extraction process.
There’s still time to get your body in the shape you want before summer. Liposuction is an excellent complement to healthy lifestyle habits and achieves outstanding results that can last indefinitely with mindful eating and exercise.
Learn more about liposuction by scheduling your consultation in our Cincinnati office.
