May is the beginning of the warm season. It’s that time of year when everyone ditches their blazers and oversized sweaters to step outside in that sexy little dress that’s been sitting in your closet all winter.
But for most of us, “bikini season” is often met with a wave of suffocating anxiety, and men and women alike are looking for radical solutions to slip into their swimsuits confidently and quickly. I’m looking for it. answer? A trending body contouring treatment called tumescent liposuction provides proven and lasting results, yet is minimally invasive and does not require general anesthesia.
Tumescent liposuction of the abdomen of a female patient. Pre-surgery and 1st day post-surgery.
“Over the past year or so, I have not seen an increase in the number of patients who want to shape their bodies,” says Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, PFrankMD, a renowned dermatologist and Tucent liposuction expert. says. He attributes the surge in body contouring and liposuction to the Ozempic craze.
“Patients are looking to tone and balance their bodies more than ever, but they don’t want any downtime. So whether you’re a mom looking to avoid a tummy tuck, love handles Whether it’s an active man who can’t lose weight, patients are looking for a “one and done” solution, and Tumescent is the gold standard for minimally invasive fat removal. Liposuction,” says Dr. Frank.
“Previously, completely non-invasive fat removal options such as CoolSculpting were the logical choice for patients looking to remove some bulges themselves, but with time and experience, they It has been found to be unpredictable and unsuccessful, often leaving patients with additional complications, compared to minimally invasive surgical options.”
Tumescent liposuction of the abdomen and back of a female patient, 1 month ago … [+]
So what exactly is tumescent liposuction, or as Dr. Frank coined it, “microlipo” used in conjunction with lipolysis and skin tightening techniques? It is an in-office procedure in which a sterile solution containing a vasoconstrictor (epinephrine) is injected into fatty areas of the body. This solution helps numb the area, reducing bleeding and making it easier to remove fat cells. After the swelling solution is injected, a small incision is made in the skin and a thin tube called a cannula is inserted into the fatty tissue. The cannula is then connected to a vacuum device and the excess fat is suctioned out.
If you want to look 10 pounds lighter in a specific area, tumescent liposuction may be the best option for you, especially if the excess fat doesn’t tolerate diet or exercise and is concentrated in a specific area of your body .
“There is no treatment that can turn a larger person into a smaller person, but when you lose weight, it often does not occur at the same rate throughout your body,” says Dr. Frank. “Most patients in their 30s, 40s and 50s can have very good skin regression after surgery, as long as there is no droopy skin or significant damage to the muscles.”
Before and after tumescent liposuction on a patient’s arm.
According to Dr. Frank, the tumescent liposuction procedure is very simple and the patient remains conscious throughout the treatment. “You can get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the procedure if you wish,” he says. “They can tell if they’re feeling discomfort, so we just give them something to numb the localized pain, similar to giving them Novocaine before a dental procedure.”
Patients can expect to be able to shower the next day and return to work after 48 hours. Normal daily activities can usually be resumed within 48 hours, and exercise can be resumed after one week.
Before and after tumescent liposuction from thigh to knee.
Before and after liposuction, Dr. Frank uses an ultrasound wand or a radiofrequency device, such as a BodyTite, to tighten the skin and dissolve fat. External tightening devices such as Morpheus8 and Ellacor can also be used to remove slack. Dr. Frank says that while tumescent liposuction is not suitable for weight loss, it can be very effective as long as the patient’s weight remains within 15% to 20% of her body weight. If weight loss is your ultimate goal, he recommends reaching your desired weight before the procedure.
“People who need to lose more than 20 pounds need to do it in a different way beforehand,” he says. “I’m not the first 10 pounds, I’m the last 10 pounds.”
