Tumescent Lipo-Sculpture

How does it work?

Tumescent lipo-sculpture, sometimes referred to as liposculpting, incorporates use of a very small stainless steel tube called a cannula (from the Latin word for reed, tube, cane). The cannula used in tumescent lipo-sculpture is connected to a powerful vacuum and inserted into the fat through small incisions in the skin. Fat removal is accomplished as the suction cannula creates tiny tunnels through the fatty layers. After a tumescent lipo-sculpture, as the body heals the patient is left with a much thinner fat layer. Many modified forms of tumescent lipo-sculpture exist today with different levels of sedation. The word "tumescent lipo-sculpture" comes from the true essence and definition of tumescent anesthesia. The definition of tumescent anesthesia is to use local anesthesia to inject or "tumesce" (make firm with fluid) the fat and skin layers. Tumescent anesthesia not only makes the areas numb, but also acts to constrict the blood vessels in the area so there is almost negligible blood loss. This is truly what leads to such a rapid recovery when your surgeon uses the tumescent lipo-sculpture technique.

What are tumescent lipo-sculpture treatments like?

With the tumescent technique, the doctor injects a solution into the fatty tissue that anesthetizes the area. It causes the area to become firm and swollen (tumescent), which enables the surgeon to extract fat more accurately and uniformly, and thereby tumescent lipo-sculpture produce smoother results. Tumescent lipo-sculpture uses thinner cannula compared to other lipo-sculpture techniques that is inserted through a tiny incision in an inconspicuous location. The fat is removed through this tube with the assistance of a high pressure vacuum.

What is the cost for treatment?

Compared to other lipo-sculpture methods tumescent lipo-sculpture is regarded as a fairly low cost procedure. The cost of the tumescent lipo-sculpture procedure depends upon several factors, including the sites selected, and special circumstances which may surround a particular case. The procedure ranges in cost from $1,500 to $4,300 depending upon the area treated.

How many treatments are required to see results?

You will usually notice the results after one tumescent lipo-sculpture within ten to thirty days. Improvement, however, continues for up to one year.

Tumescent lipo-sculpture can be repeated. There is a limit to the amount of fat which can be removed during any one session of tumescent lipo-sculpture. In some instances the patient may want to have more removed at another time. If someone has several areas to treat, sometimes it is better to treat them at separate times.