At a Glance:
- In the 1980s, dermatological surgeons Jeffrey Klein and Patrick Lillis developed the tumescent technique, which allows liposuction entirely by local anesthesia and with minimal surgical blood loss.
- The price of tumescent liposuction is based on a number of factors such as the size and amount of areas being treated, anesthesia, medical tests, and prescribed medication.
- Although further improvements such as energy liposuction and ultrasonic liposuction have been implemented with variable outcomes, the tumescent technique continues to be the global standard for liposuction care.
Liposuction, if performed successfully, can improve your appearance by giving you a more natural-looking distribution of body fat. It is a cosmetic procedure that contours and removes fat deposits from areas of your body that can’t be done through diet and exercise.
This type of liposuction is by far the most popular and the most prevalent cosmetic procedure in the U.S. This is because it is safer, more efficient, less painful, and has a faster recovery time than traditional liposuction. Tumescent liposuction is performed as an outpatient operation and does not involve general anesthesia.
Apart from aesthetic purposes, tumescent liposuction is also advised for a number of health reasons. It helps remove visceral fat, which is the type of fat surrounding the internal organs that can cause life-shortening diseases such as diabetes, stroke, and heart attack. It is also an effective procedure in removing lipomas, or benign fatty tumors, and to treat excessive underarm sweating and enlarged male and female breasts.
In this article, we are going to discuss in more detail what tumescent liposuction is and how it is done. We are also going to answer some of the questions that you may have like the cost, benefits, risks, results, and side effects of this procedure.
What is Tumescent Liposuction?
Tumescent liposuction is defined as a method for performing the liposuction procedure with the patient completely under local anesthesia. It is a liposuction technique that can securely remove fat from almost every part of the body, including the face, neck, chin, breast, stomach, hips, legs, back, internal and outer thighs, buttocks, ankles, and calves.
This body-sculpting operation injects a large quantity of fluid into the tissue with local anesthetic and adrenaline. This method shrinks capillaries, reducing bleeding and hardening fat, making it simpler to remove. It is the preferred technique of almost all plastic surgeons performing liposuction, as it also decreases recovery time.
Tumescent Liposuction Procedure
The procedure starts with injecting a solution that contains a local anesthetic and medicine called epinephrine into the targeted regions of excess fat deposits. The solution enters the skin’s fatty layer and causes it to swell and become firmer, enabling the surgeon to have better control when contouring the area.
The solution also allows the blood vessels to shrink momentarily, significantly decreasing blood loss during the operation and decreases bruising inflammation, and pain after the operation.
Once the solution is injected, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the skin and inserts a cannula— a tiny, slim tube linked to a vacuum-like machine — into the fatty layer. Using back and forth motions, the fat is sucked into a sterile collection scheme through the tube. An elastic compression garment is then worn to assist the skin to contract and heal.
Tumescent Liposuction for Per Area
- Chin – For tumescent liposuction of the chin, the incisions produced will be very tiny and will cure quickly. Using a cannula with a diameter of normally less than 2 mm, the sutures are made at an area where it is hard to notice.
- Abdomen and Waist (Smartlipo Tumescent Liposuction) – Tumescent liposuction can safely remove fat from almost all parts of the body, including the abdomen and the waist. A laser liposuction technique called SmartLipo uses laser energy to liquefy the fat before your surgeon suctions it out.
- Neck – Tumescent neck liposuction is done by creating very tiny incisions both under the chin and behind the ears while softly suctioning fat out through these tiny incisions. The method of tumescent liposuction is much gentler than traditional techniques of liposuction and creates far less bruising.
- Arms – This procedure is mostly undertaken by women who want to have more confidence when wearing short sleeves. The operation is performed using microcannulas that deliver incredible outcomes and happy patients.
- Breast (Female) – Surgical breast reduction through excision has been the only option for women with excessively big breasts. Patients who undergo tumescent liposuction by local anesthesia experience minimal postoperative pain, have a fast postoperative recovery, and can quickly return to their normal activities. Special breast microcannulas are used in the procedure, and trimodal compression garments are needed for postoperative care.
- Thigh – Thigh gap liposuction is a very common liposuction procedure nowadays. By removing undesirable fat from the internal thighs, knees, and the roll under the bum that connects with the internal thigh, some space between your thighs will be created while sculpting your legs.
How Much Does Tumescent Liposuction Cost?
Liposuction cost is an important factor to consider if you are planning on getting a tumescent liposuction surgery. The quality of the liposuction, however, is more crucial than the price of the procedure. Choosing a liposuction surgeon based on the lowest price may, later on, cost you more money. The initial cosmetic results could turn out so bad that you would need to pay another surgeon to repair the first liposuction surgeon’s work.
Average Cost of Tumescent Liposuction
The typical average cost for Tumescent Liposuction is $5150. The price of this procedure can range between $1500 and $9500.
Tumescent Liposuction Prices List for Per Area
Below is a list that shows the price ranges for tumescent liposuction on specific body areas:
Tumescent Liposuction Cost Approximate | ||
Treatment Areas: | Approximate Minimum (in US$) | Approximate Maximum (in US$) |
Abdomen (Upper & Lower) | 3,000 | 8,000 |
Abdomen (Lower Only) | 2,500 | 7,500 |
Arms | 2,000 | 5,500 |
Back (Female) | 2,000 | 4,500 |
Breasts (Female) | 3,000 | 8,000 |
Breasts (Male) | 3,000 | 8,000 |
Buttocks | 2,000 | 5,000 |
Chin, Cheeks, Jowls, Neck | 2,500 | 5,000 |
Flanks (Male) | 2,500 | 6,000 |
Anterior Thighs & Knees | 2,500 | 6,000 |
Inner Thighs & Knees | 3,300 | 6,500 |
Hips/Waist | 2,500 | 6,000 |
Outer Thighs | 2,500 | 6,000 |
Tumescent Liposuction Results & Side Effects:
Many patients will see 90 percent of their ultimate liposuction outcomes with one to three months after surgery. The postoperative swelling occurs for the first few weeks after surgery. The rate at which this swelling subsides depends on the surgical technique and postoperative care method of the surgeon.
Does Tumescent Liposuction Have Side Effects?
Tumescent liposuction has common side effects, including:
- Temporary inflammation, bruising, soreness and numbness in and around the areas treated.
- Irritation and minor scarring around the incision places where the cannula was inserted.
- Baggy or rippling skin which will usually tighten and retract after a few months.
Can Liposuction Lead To Weight Gain?
Weight gain after liposuction is possible as this procedure is not a replacement for weight loss or exercise. It is not considered to be an obesity treatment and does not promise lasting weight loss. It also does not extract cellulite, loose or sagging skin. The technique is only designed for those fat areas that do not respond to exercise or diet. Liposuction targets areas on thighs, abdomen, arms, back, hips, buttocks, feet, neck, face, calves, and ankles.
Is Tumescent Liposuction Safe?
Most people are hesitant to undergo tumescent liposuction because of safety concerns and the fear that the procedure might be painful. To help you better understand tumescent liposuction, we will explain to you the risks of this procedure and why you don’t need to worry much about any painful experience after the operation.
Tumescent Liposuction Risks:
Like any other surgical procedure, tumescent liposuction brings both benefits and risks. The complications are uncommon and usually minor. The most common ones are skin irregularity, lumpiness, dimpling, loose skin, numbness, infections, and scarring. If any of these complications occur, they can be easily corrected in most cases.
Is Tumescent Liposuction Painful?
Patients who undergo traditional liposuction surgery usually experience painful and prolonged recovery after the procedure. The local anesthetic used in tumescent liposuction, however, wears off very slowly, offering convenience for hours after the operation.
How Long Does Swelling From Liposuction Last?
Most of the swelling goes down in a couple of days. You will typically see some improvements within one to two weeks. However, it requires at least three to four months, and in some cases as long as six months, to see the full benefit of the treatment.
Tumescent Liposuction Recovery
Under most conditions, recovery is generally fast when liposuction is an outpatient procedure. Most individuals can return to their jobs within a few days, and to their ordinary routines in approximately two weeks. For at least a few weeks, bruising, swelling, and soreness should be anticipated.
Tumescent Liposuction Reviews
Most of the reviews posted on Realself.com are favorable, with 93% of them saying that undergoing liposuction was “Worth it.” Many of these satisfied clients are pleased with the results and mentioned that it was the best choice they have ever made in their lives or it was the greatest gift they have ever given themselves. The rest of the reviews stated that they are “Not Sure” for
reasons like they can’t see any results yet or there was a misunderstanding with their surgeon about the outcomes that they want to see after the procedure.
A positive review was also posted on Zwivel.com, with more details on the client’s experience with tumescent liposuction and how happy she was with the procedure, recovery and results.
Alternatives to Tumescent Liposuction
There are non-surgical and less invasive methods of fat removal that offer alternatives to traditional liposuction and involve much less recovery time. A few major techniques and top specialists in cosmetic surgery will be discussed here briefly.
- Coolsculpting – Otherwise known as Cryolipolysis, it is a cost-effective medical procedure that helps get rid of surplus fat cells through freezing. CoolSculpting is non-invasive, so it does not require surgery, cuts or anesthetics, and it holds less danger than liposuction. The operation freezes and kills fat cells in the portion of your body that is being treated. These dead fat cells are naturally broken down within a few weeks and flushed out of your body through your liver. Most CoolSculpting procedures take about an hour, and there is no recovery time since no damage is done to the skin or tissue.
- Ultrasonic Liposuction – Also known as ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL), this nearly painless, non-surgical body contouring method is conducted as an alternative to liposuction. Ultrasonic liposuction is a type of fat loss procedure that utilizes low-frequency sound waves to burst fat cells and liquefies fat cells prior to removal. This increasingly popular alternative to traditional liposuction is non-invasive and uses devices with brands like UltraShape and Cavi-Lipo in its procedure. The results of this technique may vary depending on your individual health history and body type.
- TriSculptTM Laser Lipo – Sono Bello, a chain of laser liposuction and body contouring clinics that claim to employ the top cosmetic surgery professionals in the U.S., offers three procedures. These are TriSculptTM Laser Liposuction, TriSculpt E/XTM, and Venus FreezeTM. Available for both men and women, these techniques are much less invasive and take much less healing time than traditional liposuction.
The Bottom Line
Tumescent liposuction is a safer, more effective and less painful surgical procedure that can help you achieve the figure that you want by removing the excess fat in your body. Not only does it help you get in shape, but it can also reduce the risks of diseases that can be caused by unnecessary body fat. This procedure is not cheap and it may take months before you will see the outcome that you want, but its end result can forever change people and can even save lives.