ANSWERS TO MOST COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT TUMESCENT LIPOSUCTION

1. WHAT IS TUMESCENT LIPOSUCTION?
ANSWER: Tumescent liposuction is the process of permanently removing unwanted localized fatty deposits that are most commonly seen on the thighs, buttocks, love handles, stomach, arms and chin. This process involves numbing the area to be treated with a dilute solution of numbing medicine while the patient is awake and alert. The process of numbing the fatty tissue before removal is termed tumescence and is where the procedure gets its name. Once the areas to be treated are numb, a long suction device called a cannula is used to remove the fat through tiny incisions in the skin that are easily concealed.

2. WHAT KIND OF PATIENT IS THE IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR LIPOSUCTION?
ANSWER: The person that gets the most benefit from liposuction is someone who eats well, exercises regularly and has stubborn localized collections of fatty tissue that don’t seem to get any smaller no matter how hard you exercise. Liposuction is not a substitute for a good diet and regular exercise and is unlikely to make a significant difference is people who are significantly overweight. Keep in mind that it may take as long as six months after the procedure to see the final results.

3. IS TUMESCENT LIPOSUCTION SAFE?
ANSWER: Tumescent liposuction is very safe. The only significant side effects include temporary bruising, swelling and mild bleeding. There may also be some mild temporary numbness in the skin overlying the areas treated. There is a minimal risk of bacterial infection for which you will receive antibiotics before surgery to reduce this risk even further. 

4. I HAVE HEARD IN THE NEWS THAT PATIENTS HAVE DIED FROM LIPOSUCTION. HAS ANYONE EVER DIED FROM TUMESCENT LIPOSUCTION?
ANSWER: There has never been a death reported from tumescent liposuction. The reports of deaths associated with liposuction have been in patients who have received general anesthesia (patients who were put to sleep) in association with the procedure. Many of these patients also had more than the suggested amount of fat removed in a single session..

5. WILL THE FAT YOU REMOVE EVER COME BACK?
ANSWER: The fat cells we remove are removed permanently and never grow back. However it is impossible to remove every fat cell in the area being treated. If you gain a significant amount of weight after the procedure the fat cells that remain in that location will enlarge in proportion with the amount of weight gain.

6. I HAVE HEARD THAT IF YOU REMOVE FAT FROM ONE LOCATION IT WILL GROW BACK IN ANOTHER PART OF THE BODY?
ANSWER: This is not true. However if you gain weight after the procedure, the fatty tissue in areas not treated will enlarge just as they would had you never had liposuction. The area treated will not enlarge to the same degree because there are fewer fat cells there after liposuction.

7. IS THE TREATMENT VERY EXPENSIVE, AND WILL MY INSURANCE PAY FOR THE TREATMENT?
ANSWER: The cost of treatment varies per person, and depends on the amount of fat you have in the area and the number of areas you want treated. This treatment is considered a cosmetic treatment, and is not accepted by insurance companies. Therefore, payment by the patient is expected at the time of service.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO ARRANGE A CONSULTATION VISIT WITH DR. BAUCOM OR DR. PHARIS, PLEASE CALL 404-943-1996