Liposuction Safety & Procedure: A Comprehensive Overview

Question
How safe is liposuction,and exactly how is it performed?

Answer
Liposuction is very safe.  In one series of 13000 patients, there were no deaths or no hospitalizations from complications.  It is done under local anesthesia, meaning that novacaine is injected all over the area to be treated and then the fat suctioned.  So, what you would have done is some relaxing and pain meds... something like some valium and demerol.  Then, you would have the novacaine introduced via a blunt tipped wand and little pump... several litres are put in.  Then the suction wands are used and the doctor goes back and forth thru multiple 3 mm incisions until the amount of fat is removed.  Then, a compression garment (girdle is applied)  That is the quick version.