Tumescent Liposuction - Houston, Texas

What is Tumescent Liposuction?

• The word tumescent refers to anything that is swollen and firm. With tumescent liposuction, a large volume of very dilute solution of local anesthesia (lidocaine, bicarbonate and epinephrine) is injected into the fat beneath the skin, causing the targeted area to become swollen and firm. The local anesthetic lidocaine in the solution used for tumescent liposuction reduces the pain that one would experience after liposuction. The drug epinephrine (adrenalin) provides profound localized vasoconstriction that it reduces surgical bleeding during tumescent liposuction.

• Tumescent liposuction can be combined with other forms of liposuction such as in VASER liposuction.  In fact, the tumescent technique liposuction is essential for VASER liposuction to work since ultrasonic energy used in the VASER liposuction needs "water" to emulsify or liquefy the fat.  The fluid in the tumescent solution also prevents "skin burn injuries" from VASER liposuction.

Before & After Photos:  4D VASER Liposuction 6 weeks after surgery.  Procedure performed by Dr. De La Cruz

Benefits of Tumescent Liposuction

• Less blood is lost.

• Intravenous fluid replacement is not necessary.

• Bacteriostatic lidocaine may decrease the risk of infections.

• Tumescence magnifies defects; therefore, the likelihood of needing a secondary procedure may be less.

• Lipid-soluble lidocaine is somewhat suctioned out with the aspirated fat.

• Vasoconstriction minimizes absorption.

• The epinephrine may increase the cardiac output, which, in turn, hastens the hepatic metabolism of the lidocaine.

• The duration of anesthetic effect may last as long as 24 hours.

• The lidocaine may be given safely up to 45 mg/kg and even higher in certain conditions.

Does VASER Liposuction Employs Tumescent Liposuction Technique?

• It is standard of care to employ the tumescent liposuction technique in most liposuction methods, including the VASER liposelection/liposculpture.
• Infilitrating the area of fat with tumescent solution reduces the risk of burn injuries that may occur in VASER liposuction or Laser-assisted liposuction.

Emmanuel De La Cruz MD, PLLC

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Lymphatic Massage after Liposuction

One may notice a hardness or lumpiness to the areas treated with liposuction and/or with other body contouring procedures (such as fat injections for what is popularly known as the Brazilian Butt Lift).   This post-surgical lymphedema is caused by inflammation and trauma from the cannula (instrument that sucks out the fat) moving under the skin.  Channels are formed by the cannula that can fill up with fluid and the tissue also becomes swollen.  Manual Lymphatic Massage helps to move the fluid by gently pumping it back into the lymph vessels.  Reducing the swelling can reduce discomfort and may reduce contour irregularities after a   liposuction procedure.  Without Lymph Massage (LDT or MLD) the inflammation can evolve into fibrosis (a permanent hardening of the tissue) or a seroma ( pocket of serum) can form.  It is imperative that one should follow the post-operative protocol of your plastic surgeon to achieve the best possible results and avoid developing fibrosis and even possibly contour irreguarities.

Clinical studies have shown that lymphatic massage also improved the clinical outcome after a cryolipolysis procedure.   The study had shown that post-treatment manual massage resulted in a mean fat layer reduction was 68% greater in the massage side than in the non-massage side as measured by ultrasound at 2 months post-treatment.  At 4 months, mean fat layer reduction was 44% greater in the massage side.   Histological results showed no evidence of necrosis or fibrosis resulting from the massage.

I do NOT recommend receiving a general therapeutic, deep tissue or Swedish Massage in lieu of a lymphatic massage therapy after a liposuction procedure.

Emmanuel De La Cruz MD, PLLC

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, Houston Texas

References:

Boey, et al.  Enhanced clinical outcome with manual massage following cryolipolysis treatment: a 4-month study of safety and efficacy.  Lasers Surg Med. 2014 Jan;46(1):20-6.