Insist on the tumescent method of Liposuction. If your surgeon says you have to "go under" general anesthesia, then you probably will not be getting the tumescent technique. When done properly, tumescent liposuction should require only local anesthetics. The tumescent anesthetic virtually eliminates bleeding and greatly diminishes trauma to the fatty tissue, thus recovery is much faster and less painful with this method. Most of the time, very small diameter instruments are used with the tumescent method, which also minimizes trauma and gives smoother results.
The anesthetic formula is added slowly to the fatty tissue layers, using a thin hollow tube or "cannula." The solution gradually "inflates" the fat and completely deadens the nerve endings. During the liposuction, another narrow cannula attached to a vacuum source is moved back and forth through the fat that is to be removed. The motion of the cannula breaks the fat into tiny fragments, which are immediately removed by suction through the cannula.