Liposuction (Klein Technique) – By Tumescent Liposuction

Liposuction is a technique that improves the body’s contour by removing excess fat from fatty deposits between the skin and muscle. Liposuction was developed in the 1970’s.

Tumescent Liposuction was developed by Dr J Klein. This form of liposuction involves the use of a small stainless steel tube, called a cannula. Very small cannula for delicate liposuction (liposculpture) are called micro cannulae.  The cannula is connected to either a special suction syringe or a very powerful suction pump. The cannula is inserted through small skin incisions, or tiny punch holes called adits. The removal of fat is accomplished as the suction cannula creates tiny tunnels through the fatty layers. After the procedure, these tunnels collapse, resulting in an improved body contour.

Although liposuction is a relatively new form of cosmetic surgery, there have been several recent improvements in the technique. One of the most significant improvements has been the introduction of the Tumescent Technique, developed by Dr Jeffrey A Klein, M.D. in 1985. 

Tumescent Liposuction permits liposuction totally by local anaesthesia instead of general anaesthesia. This technique is now considered the safest form of liposuction for removing very large amounts of fat because there is virtually no blood loss. 

It has also proven to be less painful, with minimized post operative recovery time and the use of micro cannulae produces optimal cosmetic results.

Body fat tends to increase gradually as you age. 

After the age of 30, an individual tends to add fat according to a genetically predetermined pattern. This fat distribution is often resistant to exercising and dieting. An example is the fat that appears on the abdomen and hips of a woman after pregnancy. 

For people who have inherited an excessive accumulation of fat, liposuction may be the only realistic means of significantly changing the body’s silhouette. In effect, liposuction is equivalent to being able to focus the effects of dieting to specific areas of the body.

The most frequently treated areas in women are the breasts, abdomen, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles and beneath the chin. 

In men, the most commonly treated areas include love handles, abdomen, breasts and the neck/chin area.

Yes.

Fat cells that are removed by liposuction do not grow back. As long as the patient does not gain excessive amounts of weight, the new, more pleasing silhouette can be permanent. 

A woman who always tends to put weight on her thighs and knees, will find that after liposuction, these areas are less likely than other areas to accumulate fat if she regains weight.

The best candidates for liposuction are in good health and have realistic expectations of liposuction. You should hope for a 50% improvement; anything greater would be a bonus. 

There is no definite age or weight limit for patients who are “good candidates” for liposuction. 

It is important to emphasize that liposuction is not a treatment for general obesity. Liposuction is not effective as a last resort for people who are unable to maintain a reasonable weight by dieting. However, an overweight person whose weight has been stable for many years and has certain problem areas of fat may be an excellent candidate for liposuction.

• Virtually no blood loss. 

• Decreased bruising. 
• Eliminates risk of general anaesthesia. 
• Minimal discomfort – some people find infiltrating the local anaesthetic to be uncomfortable.  
• There is little or no pain immediately after the surgery because the local anaesthesia persists in the treated area for more than 12 hours. 
• Immediate post operative recovery because the total amounts of local anaesthesia used are worked out exactly for your weight and height, there is rarely any nausea.  Patients are discharged home within an hour or two of the procedure. 

• Quick return to normal activities. 
• Because of the significant decrease in swelling and decrease in inflammation and pain after the procedure, patients are able to return to normal physical activities very soon after the procedure.  
• There is no limitation to physical activity other than what common sense would dictate. Some patients are able to return to jogging, golf, light aerobic exercise within a day or two after surgery. However, it is best to wait for 2 weeks before strenuous activities are resumed. 
• Some patients do find the soreness after surgery more significant than others, but on average, most patients are surprised at how quickly they are able to return to normal activity. 
• Very low rate of infection. 

• The lignocaine that is used for Tumescent Liposuction actually kills bacteria. Also, it is standard policy at the Vein and Skin Clinic to give antibiotics before and after the procedure. 

Minimal risk of irregularities and unevenness. This is due to the use of large volumes of dilute local anaesthetic, which infiltrates into the fatty tissue. The tissue becomes firm, swollen (tumescent), and is magnified. If there is an area that has not been completely treated, this is more easily detected because the area is swollen and enlarged.

Because the patient is awake, the patient is able to move around on the operating table allowing the treating physician to work on all areas evenly. The patient can also stand or sit immediately post-op and judge for themselves the evenness or otherwise of the immediate post liposuction result.

Irregularities and unevenness are also reduced, as with the Tumescent Technique, very small cannulas are used. This permits a more delicate and gentle approach to liposuction.  The microcannulas require a minimal amount of force in order to advance them into fatty tissue. The operating physician can control the direction and position of the cannula. The ultimate result is a greatly reduced risk of inadvertently approaching too close to the under-surface of the skin and unintentionally causing irregularities.

Because the tumescent technique uses very small cannulas, only tiny incisions or tiny punch holes are required. These are so small that no stitches are used. The wounds heal by themselves and virtually disappear with time. Sometimes, in darkly pigmented individuals, some hyper-pigmentation of the sites can occur. These generally fade with time.