Liposuction is an amazing procedure that can be used to help you attain the body
that you desire. However, it has a long history in which that wasn’t always the case! If you’re interested in learning all about liposuction and liposuction history, read on for more information,
A French Connection
The concept of body contouring has long been in the minds of men and women hoping to regain control over a body that’s constantly changing with time and age. It was in 1920s France that Charles Dujurrier, a notable surgeon, first began experimenting with the process of removing fat deposits to create a preferred aesthetic for dancers focused on their knees and ankles. While fat deposit efforts were successful with surgical removal, physicians in this time period faced severe cases of gangrene in patients due to unsterile conditions. Amputation became a great risk associated with contouring which causes a noticeable lull in contouring interest among the general population for the next several decades.
A procedure was developed in the 1960s, called suction curettage. This procedure unfortunately resulted in irregular results and caused complications such as severe bleeding and in some cases, death. Two Italian-American gynecologic surgeons — Drs. Arpad and Giorgio Fischer — are considered to have conceived and developed the liposuction procedure in 1974. The procedures developed by Drs. Arpad and Fischer were the first to use a cannula, also invented by these doctors. While the procedure was considered an advancement, the technique still came with many complications.
A 1970s Revival
Attempts were reignited in 1974 by the father and son team of Dr. Arpad and Dr. Giorgio Fischer in Rome, Italy to perfect the art of body contouring through fat removal and out of this dedicated effort was born the blunt tunneling technique that would eventually lead to the development of modern liposuction. Taking the tunneling method into consideration, French surgeon Dr. Yves-Gerard Illouz combined it with the concept of suctioned fat removal in 1982-a process which saw great success. The incorporated use of small cannulas and suction provided more distinct results and lowered risks associated with liposuction overall.
Moving Towards Less Invasive Methods
While the popularity of liposuction was taking off by the 1980s, many patients still wished it was possible to achieve these results without invasive surgery requiring general anesthesia. Dr. Pierre Fournier was the first to utilize Lidocaine during liposuction as an alternative to general anesthesia as well as promote the use of compression garments during the recovery period. In 1985, Dr. Jeffrey A. Klein, a renowned California dermatologist brought the tumescent technique to liposuction, allowing for smaller cannulas to be used and further reducing the risks surrounding excessive bleeding during and after the procedure. By the 1990s, cosmetic physicians were perfecting the process of ultrasound fat liquefication techniques, making it quicker, safer and easier to remove fat without long recovery periods required.
New Liposuction Advancements with Tumescent Liposuction Procedure
A new liposuction method was invented and introduced in 1985 by Dr. Jeffrey Klein, an American dermatologist. The procedure was called tumescent anesthesia, and basically changed the face of liposuction surgery. The new procedure eliminated the need for general anesthesia by only needing a local anesthetic — a mixture of epinephrine and lidocaine in a saline solution. Another major difference of this new liposuction procedure is that it is done on an outpatient basis and comes with few side effects.
Essentially the tumescent liposuction procedure entails the tumescent anesthetic solution being injected into the treatment area. The unwanted fat deposits are then removed via gentle suction using tiny cannulas.
In the 1990s, another liposuction procedure — liposculpture — was developed. This procedure uses gentle suction using a cross-tunneling technique. Again, this type of liposuction is done using local anesthesia.
In 2006, we saw the first use of lasers for tumescent liposculpture. Called SmartLipo, it was developed by Cynosure. By 2009, SmartLipo had received FDA approval for procedures for the “surgical incisions, excision vaporization, ablation, and coagulation of soft tissue.”
In essence, laser liposuction uses laser energy to melt or liquefy fat deposits. When the fat is dissolved, small cannulas and gentle suction remove the fat. This technique also has the added benefit of skin tightening so it is especially effective in treating areas such as muffin tops, saddle bags, and the neck and jowl areas.
As you can see, the huge advances in the area of liposuction have give surgeons tools and techniques that can remove fat more easily and provide better comfort to the patient.
Modern Liposuction
Today, patients seeking liposuction for body contouring are given options that allow them to pick a technique that fits their preferences and takes health profiles into consideration. Far less invasive and much safer than once upon a time, modern liposuction still owes much to the cosmetic physicians of the past who were willing to work to improve the process from the ground up.
In the modern world of cosmetic procedures and treatments, liposuction has practically become a household term. Innovations in technology have provided patients with a long list of options when it comes to liposuction as a means of contouring the body. However, as with the vast majority of cosmetic procedures, liposuction comes with a story that incorporates the work of physicians who have practiced across decades. Their combined efforts have contributed to the improvement of a technique that is now enjoyed across the globe by patients and practiced regularly by cosmetic physicians.
For more information about liposuction and how it can help you, contact us today! We can’t wait to hear from you soon.
