International Society of Tumescent Anesthesia Liposuction (ISTAL)
About ISTAL
Founded on 30–31 May 2025 in Kos, Greece by Dr Ioannis Peros, Prof. Dr Eckart Haneke, and Dr Loek Habbema, the International Society of Tumescent Anesthesia Liposuction (ISTAL) is a global organisation dedicated to promoting safe, dermatologist-led liposuction using Tumescent Local Anaesthesia (TLA).
Registered in Austria, ISTAL stands firmly against discriminatory restrictions that prevent dermatologists from performing this safe and proven procedure in certain countries.
Our mission is to:
1
Promote patient safety through global training and education and by developing and implementing the Global Tumescent Liposuction Standards (GTLS).
2
Advocate for dermatologists’ rights to practise tumescent liposuction worldwide.
our services
What is Tumescent Anaesthesia Liposuction (TAL)?
Tumescent Anaesthesia Liposuction (TAL) is a specialised technique developed by Dr Jeffrey Klein (California, USA) in the 1980s.
Instead of using general anaesthesia, the procedure involves the infusion of a dilute solution of lidocaine, adrenaline, sodium bicarbonate, and normal saline into the fatty tissue.
Since its invention, there have been no reported fatalities from properly performed tumescent liposuction making it the safest form of body contouring surgery known to medicine.
Complete numbness of the targeted fat layer.
Minimal blood loss and faster recovery.
No hospital stay performed safely in a day-care setting.
Virtually zero risk of anaesthesia-related complications.
our services
Why Tumescent Liposuction is Safer?
Compared to traditional liposuction performed under general anaesthesia,
TAL offers unmatched advantages:
✅ No general anaesthesia or sedation beyond mild anxiolytics.
✅ Drastically lower risk of complications.
✅ Superior precision and cosmetic outcomes.
✅ Minimal downtime and faster healing.
✅ Antibacterial benefits of lidocaine.
General anaesthesia-based liposuction carries higher risks of fluid imbalance, embolism, and even fatalities.
TAL avoids these risks entirely — focusing on small, safe, and controlled areas for natural contouring.
Our Results
Our Mission
To preserve, protect, and promote the practice of Tumescent Local Anaesthesia Liposuction (TAL) — a dermatologist-led technique with over 35 years of proven safety.
We are developing the Global Tumescent Liposuction Standards (GTLS), adaptable to national laws and built on established medical guidelines.
Our Fellowship and training programmes require physicians to document 200 liposuctions over five years — ensuring competence, safety, and global credibility.