Liposuction has a very long and interesting history. Unknown to many, the first attempt in doing a liposuction surgery (or a process that can shape the body into a desired form) was done during the early 1900s. While some sources say it was done during the 1920s, a number claim it was a decade after when the first attempt was made.
In any case, a surgeon named Charles Dujarier was the first doctor to try the operation on a certain female model who wanted to improve the shape and looks of her legs. Ultimately, the attempt ended in a disaster: it resulted to gangrene which, in turn, was the reason why her legs were amputated. The model died not too long after.
Today, however, such case is unheard of. Thanks to decades of medical studies and advancement, liposuction surgeries are now considered relatively safe. While still considered life-threatening (just like any other medical operations) by a number of people, liposuction remains to be the most performed cosmetic surgery in the country.
And it won’t be an exaggeration to say that it’s also as popular around the world. After all, no other operation can help people sculpture or shape their bodies by removing excess fat that cannot be removed by even the most extensive exercise. There are a number of liposuction procedures today, such as the ultrasonic liposuction and the smart (or laser-assisted) liposuction. But all these would not be possible without the development of the tumescent liposuction.
The tumescent liposuction is considered by many as the forefather or the precursor of all the liposuction surgery procedures today. It is not the first, but among its contemporaries, the tumescent liposuction was the most effective and the safest.
In fact, tumescent liposuction is still considered by many as the safest and most efficient of all the procedures existing today. It was first done during the mid-1980s. Even with the development of the ultrasonic liposuction a few years later, tumescent liposuction was still the procedure of choice.
Tumescent liposuction procedures involve the use of a saline solution which contains anesthetic and epinephrine. Epinephrine helps the shrink the capillaries to minimize the loss of blood during the procedure. Because of the solution, general anesthetic is no longer required during the procedure. The fluid during the tumescent liposuctions acts by creating space between the fatty issues and the muscles, which allows the canula to have more room.
Tumescent liposuction procedures use a smaller cannula compared to the other liposuction variations, minimizing bruises and bleeding. Tumescent liposuction also promotes faster recovery and fewer irregularities in the skin. This is perhaps because of the smaller cannula used.
Of course, the procedure has its share of side effects and possible complications. But nonetheless, tumescent liposuction serves an important purpose in the process of liposuction history. It will forever be known as the tipping point of the procedure, making way for other possible types of liposuction. And it is by no means obsolete, despite its age; tumescent liposuction is still as effective as ever.