COVID-19 Safe Operations

Keeping Patients & Staff Safe & Healthy During Unprecedented Times


Though many things have changed in our current pandemic environment, one thing has continued to be the same: our commitment to your health and safety.
Our patients play a particularly important role in maintaining a safe environment in the clinic. We have created a detailed list of new guidelines for you to follow when you come in for your appointment:
  • Please arrive for your appointment on time (no more than 10 minutes early).
  • Prior to entering the clinic, you will be asked some screening questions.
  • You will be asked to use hand sanitizer when you arrive.
  • We ask you to wear your personal mask inside the clinic.
  • No accompanying people (e.g. children, friends, or family), we ask you to come alone unless you need to be accompanied.
  • Leave all non-essential belongings in your vehicle (e.g. jackets, hats, large purses)
  • All our team is always going to wear masks and wear gloves during the appointment.
  • We will ask you to remove your shoes before entering the clinic. We will provide you with slippers at your request.
  • All clients are asked to maintain respectful distancing in waiting areas and in the clinical area.
  • Note that for the time being we would prefer that you refrain from using cash as a mode of payment.
If you have any questions regarding your upcoming appointment, please call us at 403-675-0018 to speak with out staff or e-mail us at info@artofskin.ca. We are more than happy to discuss any questions you may have.

Art of Skin

Cutting-Edge Dermatological Care, Laser And Cosmetic Surgery in Canmore, Alberta

Liposuction

Liposuction Surgery – Totally by Local Anesthesia

Dr. Lubitz is pleased to announce that Tumescent Liposuction totally by local anesthesia is now offered at his Art of SKIN Dermatology, Laser and Cosmetic Surgery in Canmore, Alberta.

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction or Body Sculpture as Dr. Lubitz likes to as referred to it as, is a surgical technique that improves the body’s contour by removing excess fat from deposits located between the skin and the muscle.

Liposuction is literally a dream come true. Localized accumulations of fat that are often inherited and frequently impossible to eliminate by exercise or dieting can now be removed permanently by liposuction surgery safely and effectively.

Liposuction involves the use of a cannula, a small hollow stainless steel tube connected to a strong vacuum device. When the cannula is inserted through a tiny hole in the skin, and then moved to and fro in a reciprocating motion, fat is suctioned out of the targeted fat deposit. With the use of small and strategically placed entry holes and careful attention to detail, liposuction can provide gratifying results with minimal risks of noticeable irregularities.

Our goal is to achieve significant improvement in body contour that appears natural and with virtually imperceptible scars.

What is the Tumescent Technique?

Tumescent Liposuction totally by local anesthesia, was invented by Dr. Jeffrey Klein in 1985. Subsequently, the Tumescent Technique has become the worldwide standard of care for maximizing the safety of liposuction surgery.

Dr. Lubitz was trained personally by Dr. Jeffrey Klein in Tumescent Liposuction totally by local anesthesia and has performed hundreds of liposuction cases since starting liposuction in 2005 without any serious complications. He offers Tumescent Liposuction exclusively for all of his liposuction patients given its far superior safety profile. Dr. Lubitz’s priorities are safety first, then excellent cosmetic results and a rapid post-operative return to normal activities.

Tumescent Liposuction totally by local anesthesia involves the injection of large volumes of very dilute lidocaine (local anesthetic) and epinephrine (vasoconstrictor that shrinks small blood vessels) into subcutaneous fat. The word tumescent means swollen and firm. With the Tumescent Technique, the volume of dilute lidocaine that is injected into the fat is so large that the targeted areas literally become tumescent (swollen and firm).

The Tumescent Technique produces profound and long lasting local anesthesia of the skin and subcutaneous fat. Tumescent Liposuction designates a form of liposuction surgery that uses tumescent local anesthesia. Local anesthesia used in Tumescent Liposuction is so effective that patients no longer need intravenous sedatives, narcotic analgesia or general anesthesia. Over the years, Dr. Lubitz has treated numerous patients who have previously had liposuction under general anesthesia. Virtually every one of these patients found the Tumescent Liposuction to be less painful, to provide better results, and to produce more rapid healing and recovery.

As a result of the widespread capillary constriction caused by epinephrine and the anesthetic solution, there is minimal bleeding during and after surgery. In fact, the average patient blood loss for Tumescent Liposuction surgery is approximately one tablespoon (15 ml). This is in dramatic contrast to liposuction completed without Tumescent Anesthesia, where there is so much blood loss that patients often require blood transfusions.

Safety First

Because cosmetic surgery is elective surgery, it is important that patients have the benefit of the safest surgical and anesthetic techniques. Dr. Lubitz’s priorities are safety first, then excellent cosmetic results and a rapid post-operative return to normal activities.

The safest form of liposuction surgery utilizes the Tumescent Technique that permits liposuction totally by local anesthesia. By having liposuction totally by local anesthesia one obviously avoids all of the potential dangers associated with general anesthesia or with IV sedation.

The drugs that are used to produce general anesthesia are relatively dangerous compared to those used for local anesthesia. It is estimated that fatal complications associated with general anesthesia occur somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 in every 10 000 patients. The severe complications associated with general anesthesia are eliminated as serious risk factors by not using these medications. It is well recognized that local anesthesia is considerably safer than general anesthesia.

Liposuction is far safer when excessive liposuction is avoided. Serious liposuction complications are most commonly the result of excessive liposuction. Excessive liposuction typically occurs when a surgeon and patient use poor judgment and attempt to remove too much fat on a single day, or attempt to treat too many body areas on a single day.

Due to the fact that there is a limitation to the total dosage of local anesthetic that can be used in a single surgery, the total amount of liposuction that can be accomplished totally by local anesthesia is also limited.

It is important to remember that Tumescent Liposuction totally by local anesthesia is a surgical procedure, and while serious surgical complications using this technique are very rare, some complications can happen. Dr. Lubitz and his liposuction nursing staff are well trained and experienced in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. They are equipped and able to diagnose and treat all true emergencies immediately.

Liposuction surgery in Alberta can only be performed in Non Hospital Surgical Facilities accredited by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA). Accreditation of a surgical facility documents that the facility has passed an in person inspection and has strict policies and procedures in place to maximize patient safety. The Art of SKIN Dermatology, Laser and Cosmetic Surgery is such an Accredited Non Hospital Surgical Facility and the only such facility in Canmore.

Areas Treated by liposuction

The most frequently treated areas for women are the abdomen, hips and outer thighs, inner thighs and knees, face and neck, arms, back, buttocks and breasts. In men, who comprise about 15% to 20% of liposuction patients, the most commonly treated areas include the chin and neck area, abdomen, breasts and “love handles” or flanks.

Your Consultation for Liposuction Surgery

Dr. Lubitz and his liposuction staff are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals of self-improvement. Your liposuction consultation will be personal and private. Of course you may bring your spouse, relative or friend if you wish.

You should not feel compelled to make any decision about having liposuction at the time of your initial consultation. The consultation is your opportunity to ask questions and acquire information. Your goal should be to appraise the personality, knowledge, experience, skill, and professionalism of Dr. Lubitz and his staff. At the same time, Dr. Lubitz and staff will want to make sure that you are a good candidate for liposuction.