Lidocaine in ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty

The doses of Lidocaine used for Lipoplasty often exceed what is commonly re commended for other surgical procedures. When using these high volumes of L idocaine and wetting solutions, a variety of safety issues must be consider ed. The author knows of no other plastic surgery operation in which the saf ety of the procedure is so influenced by the medications administered. Each component of the wetting solution-the alkalized fluid, the epinephrine, an d the lidocaine-has an individual and interrelated role. The absorption of Lidocaine with epinephrine after subcutaneous installation for Lipoplasty p robably represents a unique situation, and the concepts presented should no t necessarily be extrapolated to other types of procedures.