Tumescent liposuction is now recognized world wide as the technique permitting the greatest safety, the most rapid recovery, the least pain and the best aesthetic results. Tumescent liposuction is also the only technique that, in the hands of an expert surgeon, permits liposuction totally by local anesthesia, avoiding the dangers of general anesthesia, IV sedation and narcotic analgesics. There are surgeons who prefer to simultaneously use general anesthesia and tumescent liposuction. Some surgeons rely on general anesthesia because they do not have the skill to achieve complete anesthesia with tumescent liposuction. Others recommend general anesthesia just because they prefer patients to be unconscious. Still others use general anesthesia because it permits liposuction to be completed more rapidly.
However, the use of general anesthesia ought not to be based on what is most convenient for the surgeon, but rather what is best for the patient. Ultimately, the patient should choose the type of anesthesia based on all the information at his or her disposal.
Although liposuction is a relatively new form of cosmetic surgery, there have been several recent improvements in the technique. One of the most significant improvements has been the introduction of tumescent liposuction. It permits liposuction totally by local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. This technique is now considered the safest form of liposuction for removing very large amounts of fat because there is virtually no blood loss. Not only has tumescent liposuction proven to be safer than the standard technique using general anesthesia but it also has proven to be less painful, has minimized post operative recovery time, and has produced optimal cosmetic results.
The word tumescent means swollen and firm. Tumescent liposuction uses large volumes of a dilute solution of lidocaine, a local anesthetic, in combination with the vasoconstrictive drug epinephrine, which temporarily shrinks capillaries.
Local anesthesia used in tumescent liposuction for liposuction is so effective that patients no longer need intravenous sedatives, narcotic analgesics, or general anesthesia. Over the years, numerous patients who previously had liposuction with general anesthesia have had second treatments with tumescent liposuction. Virtually every one of these patients has found tumescent liposuction to be less painful, to provide better results and to result in more rapid healing and recovery.

As a result of the widespread capillary constriction caused by the epinephrine in the anesthetic solution, there is minimal bleeding during and after surgery. This is a major improvement in the liposuction technique compared to older methods that simply use general anesthesia.
In the past Liposuction included a cannula (the instrument used to remove the excess fat) and a surgeon's manual effort to separate the fat from the other tissues. Technological advancements continue to refine both the instruments available and the manual effort of the surgeon. By making the tools do more of the work the surgeon is freer to sculpt and create fine, smoother, better silhouettes.
Make sure that you go over all details about the Liposuction surgery with your surgeon. He or she can answer all your questions about the Liposuction surgery, what to expect, how long the Liposuction recovery will be, what medications to take after your Liposuction as well as many other important details.
The Liposuction consultation is a very important part of the Liposuction procedure where you will learn if you are a good candidate for liposuction and what results you can expect. You should try to make the most of it in order to have a successful Liposuction surgery.