Providing Dermatology & Liposculpture Services in Delray Beach, Florida

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the United States. Liposculpture (body sculpture by liposuction) can be a dream come true for some patients who have localized accumulations of fat that seem impossible to eliminate by diet and exercise.  This fat can now be effectively removed by liposuction, safely and easily. Common anatomic areas for liposuction include the upper and lower abdomen, the flanks (love handles), inner and outer thighs, inner knees, arms and back, and the neck. Here at our office, there are liposuction experts to help you get rid of the problem areas in different parts of your body.

What is Tumescent Liposuction?

Tumescent liposuction is a procedure that has been developed and refined by dermatologists.  In the past, the liposuction surgery required blood transfusions because blood loss was significant. Dr Jeffrey Klein, a dermatologic surgeon, is credited as the originator of the "tumescent technique", which has allowed liposuction to be performed with the patient under local anesthesia while minimizing blood loss and the risks of general anesthesia. The tumescent technique is clearly the greatest advance in liposuction since the introduction of the procedure in 1976. 

Dermatologic surgeons performing tumescent liposuction have had an unprecedented comfort and safety profile.  Complications of liposuction performed with a pure tumescent technique have been infrequent and minimal.  In recent survey of 261 dermatologic surgeons having performed 66,570 tumescent liposuction procedures, no deaths were reported.

During this type of liposuction a solution of saline water, lidocaine and small amounts of epinephrine are infiltrated into the desired area(s) of correction.

If you prefer this safer alternative, our liposuction professionals are capable of giving you the best in exemplary customer service. This procedure also promises more advantages than traditional liposuction.

What are the advantages of Tumescent Technique?

There are multiple advantages of the tumescent approach which include the following:

1. The disadvantages and risks associated with general anesthesia and intravenous sedation are eliminated.
2. Much Less blood is lost
3. Much Less bruising 
4. Faster healing
5. Intravenous fluid replacement is not necessary.
6. Bacteriostatic lidocaine decreases the risk of infections.
7. Tumescence magnifies defects, making them easier for the surgeon to correct; therefore, the likelihood of needing a secondary procedure may be less.
8. The duration of anesthetic effect may last as long as 24 hours, significantly reducing postoperative pain. Patients are comfortable during and after surgery.
9. Recovery is rapid and patients return to normal activities quickly.

 

Who is a good Candidate?

The liposuction patients selected to have the procedure should be in good physical health and have realistic expectations of liposuction. There are no specific age limits, nor weight limits for patients who are good candidates. Most of our liposuction patients have localized accumulations of fat, therefore, it is important to emphasize that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure or a treatment for generalized obesity. However, an overweight person whose weight has remained stable for many years and has specific problem areas may be an excellent candidate. The appearance of cellulite may improve but it should not be expected to be resolved after the procedure. 

Patients who are fixated on getting rid of their last little "bulge" may adversely affect the quality of their life by excessively dieting or exercising. Time that could be spent with their family, with their friends, or at work is lost.  Also excessive exercising can cause facial atrophy, loss of facial fat from areas where it is associated with youth. Liposuction could provide an instantaneous relief.

A healthy well-balanced diet is important in maintaining the postoperative results as well as ensuring excellent healing.  Crash diets immediately prior to the surgery may increase the risk of complications as a consequence of electrolyte imbalances or nutritional deficiencies. 

 

What is a typical liposuction procedure like?

After consent is obtained, preoperative photographs are taken. Our liposuction professionals prepare the skin with a disinfectant. A sterile marking pen is used to draw a topographic map of the areas to be suctioned while the patient is standing. The insertion sites are marked. The patient is placed on sterile drapes and towels, and the standard tumescent anesthesia solution is infiltrated into the area(s) being suctioned through tiny entry nicks made with a small skin blade. Once complete anesthesia is achieved, one of our liposuction experts, Dr. Balshi will use delicate stainless steel hollow micro-cannulas hooked up to a medical suction devise to remove the desired amount of fat.  

Once the desired result is obtained on the surgical table, Dr. Balshi may have the awake patient stand up to judge the satisfaction of the results (not capable in patients under general anesthesia).
Dr. Balshi may have the patient immediately return to the table to complete the surgery if necessary. This technique has decreased the number of secondary procedures compared to techniques using general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. 

Compression garments and absorptive pads are applied for the immediate postoperative period. The absorptive pads are removed 48 hours later and the compression garments are worn for at least two weeks.  Garments tend provide excellent comfort for most patients. 

 

Immediate Post-Operative Recovery

Tumescent liposuction is an outpatient office based procedure.  Overnight stay or hospitalization is not required. Our liposuction patients are observed in recovery until it is determined that they can safely return home, usually within 30 minutes.   With this technique, there is virtually no blood loss and rarely any nausea or vomiting associated with general anesthesia. 

The immediate swelling is related to the anesthetic solution, and as this decreases, surgical swelling related to the liposuction procedure is noted in the first 2 weeks. The size of the garment is often decreased as this swelling resolves. Return to physical activities may be within a few days depending on the patient's comfort. Mild activity during the first couple postoperative days is better than bed rest because it allows for better drainage and resorption of fluids. 

 

Return to Normal Activities

Because the tumescent technique allows the residual anesthetic solution to drain out over the first 24 hours, it not only lessens inflammation and reduces pain levels, but also decreases bruising. Most patients are finding that bruising is almost entirely absent on week after surgery; therefore, patients are able to return to normal physical activity within several days. Actually, there is no limitation to physical activities other than what common sense would dictate. Walking, jogging and other light exercise are even encouraged within one week of your surgery.

Returning to Work

Depending on the type of labor that you perform will ultimately determine how quickly you will want to return to work.  The majority of patients that need to return to work quickly can do so after 48 hours, when the initial absorbing post-op garments are discarded. 

Dr. Balshi serving Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Boyton Beach, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Deerfield Beach & Wellington areas, provides Liposculpture, fat transfer, fat removal, & "Smart Lipo" Liposuction procedures.

Click here to view our Liposculpture November 2009 Editorial .