Changes in Liposuction Safety and Procedures

Changes in Liposuction Safety and Procedures

When liposuction was first introduced in the 1970s, it represented a major breakthrough. Previously, doctors had attempted fat removal and body contouring through traditional surgical techniques. These attempts provided uneven results and presented many risks and side effects. Today, though, the removal of fat is easier and safer than ever, thanks to the discovery of liposuction and subsequent improvements in liposuction techniques that have been developed over the last several years.

Liposuction in the Beginning

The first attempts at liposuction involved tubes that were considerably larger than the cannulas used today. These tubes were often as large as a pinky finger. Although these early liposuction techniques were much more effective than surgical fat removal, they still produced uneven results and a great deal of bleeding.

Smaller cannulas with holes along the sides instead of at the ends improved the evenness of the liposuction procedure, allowing plastic surgeons to achieve predictable results. Bleeding remained an issue, however, and most patients required transfusions during and after the procedure to reduce the possibility of side effects. General anesthesia is also necessary for this type of liposuction, bringing additional risks.

Tumescent Liposuction

Another major breakthrough occurred in the 1980s with the development of tumescent liposuction. In tumescent liposuction, a local anesthetic is delivered to the area undergoing liposuction. This anesthetic also contains a vasoconstrictor, or a substance that causes the blood vessels to constrict. Using this combination of anesthetic and a vasoconstrictor usually epinephrine bleeding is reduced dramatically.

Tumescent liposuction can be performed in a doctor's office rather then in a hospital. The use of local anesthetic removes the risks inherent with general anesthesia, and doctors are able to use cannulas of much smaller diameter than those used with traditional liposuction. While cannulas used with traditional liposuction can be as large as six to ten millimeters in diameter, cannulas used with tumescent liposuction are typically only about two millimeters in diameter. This also makes the procedure safer, as smaller cannulas require smaller incisions, which leads to reduced healing time, a lower risk of infection, and fewer side effects.

To learn more about modern liposuction techniques, please visit the website of Atlanta, Georgia plastic surgeonDr. Kun Kim.

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