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Advanced Art of Cosmetic Surgery Thomas M. DeWire, Sr., MD, FACS Specializing in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Richmond, Virginia, USA |
Body Contouring |
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| Tumescent Liposuction |
| Tumescent Liposuction under Local Anesthesia: | ||
| With newer Tumescent Liposuction techniques, large area contour corrections are feasible, comfortable, and safe, in suitable surgical candidates, in our Office Surgical Suite. For many years, we have done all Liposuction cases in the office setting, achieving excellent results, with minimal surgical risk. By avoiding the very high cost of the local hospitals (even with cosmetic fee discounts), we have been able to achieve patient cost savings of $600 to $1800, or more, per Liposuction procedure in our state of the art Office Surgical Suite. Although Liposuction is not suitable for all patients, it is an excellent technique to correct normal, but cosmetically objectionable, depot fat storage sites which are resistant to all means of dieting and exercise. Patients should generally be within 10-15% of ideal body weight to achieve maximum benefits, but occasionally patients who are beyond this guideline can benefit as well. However, Liposuction should never be considered a weight loss technique. Patients are prepared for Tumescent Liposuction with a thorough consultation, physical exam, and digital photo exam (see Mirror Image System). Photos of similar patients are reviewed, and the patient's photos are Computer Enhanced to display potential benefits of the proposed Liposuction surgery. Most Tumescent Liposuction procedures are done under Local Anesthesia alone, as the Tumescent Solution itself is comprised of dilute Lidocaine and adrenaline, providing | both anesthesia, and virtual elimination of blood loss. Occasionally Sedation is used to assure maximum comfort during surgery, although all patients are up immediately after the procedure. Recovery time is brief, with many liposuction patients returning to work in a few days, and most back to full exercise in 12-14 days. Because there is almost no blood loss during Tumescent Liposuction, bruising, swelling, and pain are minimal post-op, and significant contour improvement is often apparent inside of two weeks. Maximum benefit is seen by 12 weeks post-op, and most patients require a compression girdle for only 2-3 weeks post-op. Although Ultrasound Liposuction has received a lot of publicity recently, its usefulness is limited, and it still remains just an expensive adjunct to Tumescent Liposuction. Ultrasound Liposuction increases surgical risk, and prominence of access incision scarring, without significantly improving most achievable results, although it does seem to be heavily promoted in some marketing strategies. Liposuction is most often applied to the thighs, hips, and abdomen, and it can be combined with other techniques, e.g. Mini-Tummy Tuck (see Post-Pregnancy Contour Restoration). Liposuction is also used for neck contouring (see Sub-Mental Lipectomy) and to correct abnormal male breast development (see Gynecomastia). Examples of Tumescent Liposuction are seen below. A Liposuction Data Sheet is found here: Liposuction | |
Photos Before and After Surgery:
| Case 1: A 33 year old aerobics instructor in excellent tone and at ideal body weight with fat storage areas on the hips and inner and outer thighs resistant to diet and exercise. |  |
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Result at twelve days after Tumescent Liposuction of hips and thighs with no bruising or visible scarring. Further improvement of the contour was seen at 12 wks and she was back to full activity including exercise at two weeks. Note example of surgical contour markings on left thigh pre-op. |
| Case
2: A 47
year old at near ideal body weight for height.
Resistant fat storage on the hips and thighs was
treated by the Tumescent
Liposuction technique, and followed by serial Cellulite Therapy treatments
with the
Silhouette Subdermal Therapy system.
See Cellulite therapy link below |
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Front view before and 8 weeks after Liposuction of anterior, lateral and posterior thighs and hips for significant excess storage fat. Blood loss and bruising were minimal, with prompt return to full activity. Subdermal Therapy was started at four weeks post-op. |
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Side views before and eight weeks after Liposuction show significant improvement of the back of the hips, the buttocks and anterior t high contours. Small Cellulite ripples are also improved directly below the buttocks fold on the back of the thigh after the early portion of the Subdermal Therapy treatments. | |
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Oblique view across the thigh shows the correction of a depressed area framed by hip fat above, and lateral thigh fat below. This area has been remedied by the Tumescent Liposuction above, and below, and Fat Re-Injection into the muscles and the soft tissues of the depression. Subdermal Therapy then followed for about 8 weeks. |
| Case 3: A 51 year old with fat and excess skin of abdomen has already had Full Tummy Tuck, and then is seen here for Tumescent Liposuction. |  |
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Before and After photos of the Tummy Tuck and Liposuction of the Hips and Thighs, with result seen 5 months post-op from Tummy Tuck, and 6 wks post-op from Liposuction. |
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Photos show result of Tummy Tuck at left, Before the Lipo, and 6 wks after Liposuction of the Inner and Outer Thighs, and Hips. | |
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Side views before surgery and after Full Tummy Tuck and Tumescent Liposuction of the Thighs, Hips, Upper and Lower Buttocks areas. | |
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Posterior Before and
After views of the same patient, now 5
months after Tummy Tuck and
6 weeks after Tumescent
Liposuction. She still weighs 170 pounds. This patient is also
seen on the abdominoplasty page. See: Abdominoplasty page |
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| ©Copyright 1997-2004 Advanced Art of Cosmetic Surgery: Thomas M. DeWire, Sr, MD, FACS Revised: October 29, 2007 04:06:25 PM |