The adrenaline has the temporary effect of shrinking the blood vessels which subsequently decreases the patient's blood loss. Injection of this fluid is done a few minutes prior to performing liposuction. Enough fluid is injected into the fatty areas to make the tissues firm and distended. Tumescent liposuction may sometimes be performed without additional anesthesia, since the fluid that is instilled contains a dilute local anesthetic. Some patients, however, may prefer additional sedation or general anesthesia, particularly if multiple areas of the body are being suctioned or additional surgical procedures are performed at the same time.
Many surgeons feel that the tumescent technique has advantages over other liposuction methods.
Advantages may include the capability to remove larger amounts of fatty tissue with less blood loss, diminished postoperative bruising and greater patient comfort. The maximum amount of fat that can be safely removed varies with the weight, body type and medical condition of the patient, the skill and judgment of the surgeon, and the other surgical procedures, if any, being performed at the same time. Removal of large volumes of fat by any liposuction technique may increase the risk of complications. Points to Remember When Considering Liposuction Liposuction is a surgical procedure for body contouring and removal of localized fat deposits. It is not an effective or safe method for weight loss.