How is Tumescent Liposuction performed?
The areas to be treated by liposuction are numbed first with a tiny injection of standard local anesthetic, just as would be the case for the removal of a mole or skin lesion. A very small incision is then made in this anesthetized area. A very narrow infusion instrument or infusion cannula is then inserted into the incision, and a very dilute local anesthetic solution is then delivered to the fatty tissues. This continues until the fat tissue is “plumped” up somewhat, or “tumesced.” The same tiny incision that was used to infuse the tumescent anesthetic solution is used to remove the fat. About 10-20 minutes after an area is infused, it becomes numb, and the actual removal of fat by liposuction is performed. The fat is suctioned away via a very thin tube-like instrument, a liposuction cannula, which has small openings or slits about half an inch from its rounded tip. The other end of the cannula is attached to a hose which is connected to a collection vessel and to a vacuum source, an
