Efficacy of Cold Tumescent for Prevention of Intraoperative Bleeding in Patients Undergoing Liposuction: A Double Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial– Half-Side Comparison


 
 
 Bleeding, a common intraoperative complication of liposuction, often causes pain and discomfort during recovery. Owing to the vasoconstrictive effect of adrenaline in the tumescent solution, bleeding can be reduced in liposuction; however, reports of postoperative bleeding persist. Moreover, cold temperatures also possess a vasoconstrictive effect.
 
 
 
 This study aimed to determine the efficacy of cold tumescent solution to prevent and reduce intraoperative bleeding.
 
 
 
 This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted between June 2018 and June 2019. The liposuction areas in each participant were divided into left and right sides; one side received operative room temperature tumescent solution (25°C), and the other side received low-temperature tumescent solution (4°C). The areas of ecchymosis, pain scores, and patient and surgeon satisfaction scores were compared and analyzed.
 
 
 
 Ten patients with 36 pairs of liposuction areas were enrolled in the study. Cold tumescent liposuction resulted in a significantly lower lipocrit relative that of the standard tumescent side (1.56 ± 0.69 vs. 2.92 ± 0.94; p < 0.001). The ecchymosis area and pain score were significantly lower in the cold tumescent group on days 2, 4, 7, and 14. The satisfaction evaluation scores did not differ between patients and surgeons at 12 months postoperatively.
 
 
 
 The use of cold tumescent anesthesia significantly improved liposuction outcomes by reducing the intraoperative blood loss and the postoperative ecchymosis and pain, thereby resulting in no immediate or short-term complications in low-volume liposuction (<1,000 cc) procedures. Furthermore, it generated a standard outcome and good patient satisfaction scores.
