Safety of Tumescent Liposuction Under Local Anesthesia in 9,002 Consecutive Patients

Abstract

BACKGROUNDLiposuction has become one of the most popular aesthetic procedures today. Among the different anesthesia methods, tumescent local anesthesia (TLA) has been shown to be the safest. Liposuction is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under minimal oral sedation and without the need for any intravenous (IV) fluid administration.OBJECTIVETo record complications in a larger series of patients undergoing liposuction in TLA.MATERIALS AND METHODSBetween 2003 and 2020, 9,002 consecutive patients underwent liposuction in TLA with the same team of surgeons. The occurrence of complications was recorded in detail.RESULTSThere were neither fatal complications nor damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, lungs, abdominal organs, nor permanent lymphedema. A total of 19 of the following side effects, mainly minor, required closer follow-up or intervention: allergic drug reaction to doxycycline (0.06%), seroma (0.04%), large hematoma (0.03%), erysipelas (0.02%), transient acrocyanosis (0.02%), deep vein thrombosis (0.01%), skin necrosis (0.01%), and generalized edema (0.01%)CONCLUSIONLiposuction in TLA is a reliable and safe procedure if it is performed by an experienced surgeon and the guidelines of care are strictly followed.

Safety of Combined Use of Ultrasound and Power-Assisted Liposuction in Local Anesthesia

“…The occurrence and frequency of adverse events in this study using both UAL and PAL appears to be comparable to previously published patients series, where only SL has been used. 4,6…”

“…The occurrence and frequency of adverse events in this study using both UAL and PAL appears to be comparable to previously published patients series, where only SL has been used. 4,6 According to the current literature and our own observation, there are several benefits of a combined use of UAL and PAL over SL:…”

“…Tumescent liposuction in wide-awake local anesthesia was shown to be safe, providing it is performed by an experienced surgeon and the guidelines of care for liposuction are strictly followed. 4-6…”

“…3 Tumescent liposuction in wide-awake local anesthesia was shown to be safe, providing it is performed by an experienced surgeon and the guidelines of care for liposuction are strictly followed. [4][5][6] Limitations of standard liposuction (SL) include excessive hematoma, surgeon fatigue, decreased effectiveness in fibrous areas (in gynecomastia and areas where liposuction was previously performed), contour irregularities, and limited aspiration volume.…”

Safety of Tumescent Liposuction Under Local Anesthesia in 9,002 Consecutive Patients: Erratum

“…In the May 2021 issue of Dermatologic Surgery in the article by Boeni and colleagues 1 , “Safety of Tumescent Liposuction Under Local Anesthesia in 9,002 Consecutive Patients”, the MD title next to Paul v. Waechter-Gniadek's name should be removed. He is a physician but still awaiting his doctoral degree.…”