The Orange County Liposuction Connection

Liposuction, Plastic Surgery

Liposuction– one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures ever has a Southern California connection most people don’t know about.

Liposuction comes to mind because it was in the news recently as Orange County blogger John De Saia, M.D. noticed that Tara Reid’s stomach has become an example of “liposuction gone bad.” (Read more about Tara’s liposuction.)

So what is the Southern California liposuction connection?

Until 1985, liposuction was an extremely painful procedure that required all patients to be put under general anesthesia.  Back then, the procedure — known as “dry liposuction”– required an anesthesiologist while driving up costs and recovery time, too.

Then, Jeffery Klein, M.D., a plastic surgeon in Orange County hit on the concept of injecting some local anesthesia and saline into the treatment area. That changed the name a little, too, so the fat removal procedure we have all come to know and love became technically known as tumescent liposuction. (“Tumescent” in medicine means “a swelling.”)

Dr. Klein’s contribution meant the injected medicines during liposuction restrict the blood vessels and almost eliminates blood loss in the patient. The medicines also numb the treatment area from the inside.

With the introduction of tumescent liposuction, the procedure became safer and much more patient-friendly because people could stay awake during the fat removal process.  They also recovered quicker, creating a lower total cost of liposuction.

Dr. Saia’s blog also gives a few good pointers for people who may be interested in having liposuction.  His tips include:

• Your weight should be stable before having liposuction
• Smoking is a huge damper on the healing process
• Liposuction does not correct loose skin

With so many excellent board-certified plastic surgeons in Pasadena and the rest of Southern California, did you ever wonder why celebrities like Tara Reid seem to turn up with so much bad plastic surgery?

Two, board-certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeons often blog about why the news is so often full of television and movie stars who wind up with less than desirable plastic surgery outcomes. (Read more about Hollywood’s awful plastic surgery.)

California Surgical Institute @ November 21, 2008