Understanding Lipo-Sculpture: Distinguishing It from Liposuction

Curious About Lipo-Sculpture? We Have the Inside Information!

If you’ve ever come across the term Lipo-Sculpture and wondered what it entails, we’ve got you covered. And if you find yourself in a state of panic about donning a swimsuit, fret not—we’re here to help. Even if you’ve shed most of the weight but still have those stubborn bulges, guess what? We’re here to provide all the details.

Tumescent liposuction, commonly known as lipo-sculpture, is a safe outpatient procedure designed to eliminate stubborn fat deposits that resist traditional methods like diet and exercise. One of its major advantages is that it can be performed in an office setting, without the need for general anesthesia. To delve deeper into this topic, we turned to Dr. Elizabeth Rostan from Charlotte Skin & Laser, a renowned local expert in this field.

Dr. Rostan has undergone specialized training in the field of tumescent liposuction, including additional instruction from Dr. Jeffery Klein, the pioneer behind this technique. Dr. Klein’s tumescent technique for liposuction is considered a groundbreaking advancement in the field since the introduction of liposuction to the country in the early 1980s. This innovative technique offers superior safety, reduced discomfort, and produces smoother results.

Before delving into tumescent liposuction, it is beneficial to grasp the basics of traditional liposuction.

What is Liposuction? Liposuction is the surgical process of eliminating fat from beneath the skin by utilizing a hollow stainless-steel tube, known as a cannula, along with a powerful vacuum. This procedure can be performed under general anesthesia, heavy IV sedation, or purely with local anesthesia.

Traditional liposuction, typically carried out under general anesthesia, employs large cannulas. However, this approach can lead to uneven fat removal, resulting in
irregularities such as ridges or depressions on the skin surface. Moreover, the use of larger cannulas can cause more tissue trauma, leading to prolonged healing times, increased bleeding, and larger visible scars. The risks associated with traditional liposuction are further amplified due to the use of general anesthesia and the potential for bleeding.

In contrast, tumescent liposuction is performed under local anesthesia. This technique involves injecting large volumes of highly diluted local anesthesia, specifically lidocaine and epinephrine, into the targeted fat areas. The injection causes these areas to become swollen and firm, known as “tumescent.” This tumescent fluid serves multiple purposes: it safeguards deeper structures, provides effective local anesthesia, and minimizes bleeding. To ensure precision and minimize tissue trauma, small cannulas are utilized. With the tumescent technique, patients remain awake during the procedure, experience minimal bleeding, enjoy rapid healing, and have negligible visible scars. Dr. Rostan regards this method as the safest approach to fat removal.