Understanding
Tumescent Liposuction
Tumescent
liposuction was developed by dermatologic
surgeons in the mid 1980's and has become
the more popular method of liposuction.
It is considered a major advancement that
has completely changed surgical fat removal.
It is regarded as the "best"
type of liposuction surgery to date.
Tumescent liposuction
is done using a local anesthetic. A large volume of saline solution
containing the anesthetic and a drug called "epinephrine"
is injected directly into the areas where there are excessive fatty
deposits. Epinephrine is important in the surgical process because
it shrinks capillaries and minimizes blood loss. Minor sedation
may be required for those who feel a little nervous about the surgery;
however, most patients are usually conscious during the procedure.
Procedure
Tumescent liposuction consists of making a small incision in the
skin in order to insert the tube that is connected to a vacuum type
machine which will suck up the fat. The tumescent method uses smaller
cannulae than that of any other type of liposuction which results
in less bruising and/or bleeding. An elastic compression garment
is worn after surgery to help the skin contract and heal. This elastic
sculpts the bulging areas and helps to achieve more attractive contours.
Benefits of Tumescent
Liposuction
Compared to other surgical methods, tumescent liposuction provides
the following advantages:
- Fewer skin irregularities
- Less bleeding
- Reduced bruising
- Faster recovery
Risks and Side Effects
of Tumescent Liposuction
There are risks and side effects associated with any type of surgery.
However, tumescent liposuction is a safe procedure with very few
side effects. Should the following types of side effects occur,
they are usually easily corrected.
- Skin irregularity
- Lumpiness
- Dimpling
- Loose skin
- Infections
Tumescent Liposuction
Recovery
Recovery time varies significantly from person to person. Many patients
are able to walk out of the office without assistance and get back
to their regular routine within a few days. The sooner the patient
begins to move around, the faster the healing progresses. For others,
healing may entail the following:
- It takes almost six
weeks for any resulting scar to begin to soften and a full year
to heal completely.
- A patient may feel
temporary numbness in the treated area because the local anesthetic
remains in the tissue for twenty-four hours or more after surgery.
- Some patients may
experience minor discomfort after the numbness wears off.
- Physical exercise
is not recommended until at least a week after surgery.
Most patients are generally
alert and able to function after surgery; they do not experience
nausea and grogginess usually associated with general anesthesia.
About the author
Tammy Corbett is an abdominoplasty weight loss consultant and content
provider for http://www.abdominoplasty-info.com/.
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