By The Tumescent Technique One of the most significant improvements has been the use of local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. The Tumescent Technique for liposuction by local anesthesia is so effective that liposuction patients no longer need intravenous sedatives, narcotic analgesics nor general anesthesia. The Tumescent Technique uses larger volumes of dilute solution of lidocaine, a local anesthetic, in combination with the drug epinephrine which temporarily shrinks capillaries. The Tumescent Technique dramatically reduces both the bleeding during surgery and the post- operative bruising and selling as compared to liposuction by general anesthesia. Minimal bleeding reduces post-operative recovery time.
Most patients can return to work and begin exercising again with a day or two after surgery.
An elastic support garment is worn for only five days or less. With general anesthesia, elastic garments are worn for two weeks or more. However, because of the slow resolution of post-surgical swelling, the ultimate results following liposuction usually require 12 to 16 weeks to be achieved. The fat cells that are removed by liposuction do not grow back. The patient's new, more pleasing silhouette is permanent.