Which local anesthetic is often injected for a tumescent anesthesia technique?

Lidocaine is frequently used in the tumescent anesthesia technique due to its rapid onset and effective infiltration properties. This technique involves injecting a large volume of diluted local anesthetic solution into subcutaneous tissue, resulting in a swollen and firm appearance known as tumescent. The use of lidocaine in this context is beneficial because it provides effective pain relief during procedures such as liposuction and dermatological surgeries, and it has a relatively short duration of action that can be extended with the addition of epinephrine, which also helps to minimize bleeding in the surgical area.

The tumescent technique relies heavily on the volume and concentration of the anesthetic used, where lidocaine’s compatibility with large volumes and its safety profile make it the preferred choice. Other local anesthetics listed, such as bupivacaine, mepivacaine, and ropivacaine, have their own advantages and uses, but lidocaine's characteristics make it particularly suited for the tumescent technique. Bupivacaine and ropivacaine are often associated with longer durations of action and are used differently, while mepivacaine may not be used as commonly in this context due to its shorter duration compared to lidocaine.