Liposuction Information - History of Tumescent Liposuction

By Dr Jeffrey Klein (The originator of Tumescent Liposuction)

The tumescent liposuction technique for local anaesthesia has revolutionised liposuction by eliminating both the risks of general anaesthesia and the bleeding once associated with liposuction. The associated vasoconstriction has permitted the extensive use of microcannulas and superficial liposuction thus dramatically improving aesthetic results. Also, patients experience less pain with tumescent liposuction than with liposuction by general anaesthesia.

The words tumescent, tumescence and tumesce are derived from the Latin verb tumere, meaning “to swell, become tumid". In clinical medicine, tumescent describes an anatomic feature that is swollen and firm, for example, an inflamed lesion may become red and tumescent. The tumescent technique permits liposuction totally be local anaesthesia.

The reality of clinical experience with tumescent liposuction is often the opposite of what one might predict based on “common sense" assumptions and traditional tenets of surgery. For example, the dilution of a local anaesthetic solution of lidocaine and epinephrine does not weaken its effect; rather, it enhances the degree of anaesthesia and vaoscontriction. Although microcannulas remove less fat per unit of time , they actually permit the removal of greater volumes of fat than traditional liposuction cannulas.

As these concepts become better accepted and understood, the tumescent liposuction technique will find increasing application of liposuction.