Liposuction History
Dr. Giorgio Fisher, an Italian Gynecologist, invented liposuction in 1974. Dr. Fisher found that he could remove fat through tiny incisions using an abortion cannula attached to a suction device. There was considerable blood loss with each procedure, and many patients required transfusions. Of course, there have been many refinements of the procedure since its initial developments making the procedure safer and easier to perform.
Dr. Illouz, a French Plastic Surgeon, popularizes the procedure in Europe until it reaches the the United States in the early 1980's. Due to bad publicity, the need for blood transfusions, and several deaths, liposuction did not become exceedingly popular until the tumescent technique was popularized.
In 1985 Dr. Jeffrey Klein, a California Dermatologist, invented tumescent anesthesia. Since its initial discovery, a few modifications have made making tumescent liposuction the most popular major cosmetic procedure performed in the United States today.
In the late 1990's, both internal and external ultrasonic liposuction became available. Initial hopes of increased fat removal compared with traditional tumescent liposuction fell short of expectations. For the most part, ultrasonic liposuction has become abandoned as studies have shown no clinical advantage (i.e. no better result) over traditional liposuction, and increased risk to the patient.
In early 2000, power-assisted liposuction became available. Initial studies using this type of device has shown no clinical advantage (i.e. no better long-term results), although there has been slightly less bruising within the first few days after liposuction and shorter operative time. As these advantages are minimal, power-assisted liposuction has not become popularized, and further studies will soon ensue.
