Tumescent anesthesia for dermatologic surgery. Cosmetic and noncosmetic procedures.

BACKGROUND

Tumescent anesthesia was originally described by Klein and Lillis for liposuction surgery. Its extension to many other interventions in dermatologic surgery (cosmetic and noncosmetic) has provided a significant contribution in the performance of safe, ambulatory, and simplified procedures.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the validity of the technique in various procedures.

METHODS

Over the course of 1 year all large reconstruction or cosmetic surgery was performed using tumescent anesthesia. In a total of 242 cases performed, the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure were analyzed.

RESULTS

Tumescent anesthesia was found to be very effective in achieving adequate anesthesia for performance of the reconstructive or cosmetic procedures. Good patient compliance was achieved with no serious sequelae.

CONCLUSION

Tumescent anesthesia is one the most substantial progressions in the field of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, with advantages that by far outnumber the few disadvantages.