Ask the Doctor: Tumescent Liposuction

Q: I am thinking about having tumescent liposuction performed. Is it safe and effective? a: Tumescent liposuction, when performed with just local anesthesia, is very safe — actually safer than the "traditional" method. Dermatologists have been using this procedure for more than 20 years. It also offers the quickest recovery time currently available. This is because the procedure is performed with much smaller cannulas (the small instrument that withdraws the fat via suction) than the traditional method, and it is performed under local anesthesia, so you avoid the risks of general anesthesia. My patients typically are out of work for one day after surgery and go back to work wearing thin garments that don't show through their clothes. This method has really made it easy for working men and women to have unwanted fat removed.