Conveying that which is swollen or showing signs of swelling; usually, as a result of a buildup of blood or water within body tissues: "Tumescent and tumor are related. Both go back to the Latin tumere meaning to swell. A tumor is literally 'a swelling'."

The surgical suctioning of fat deposits from specific parts of the body, the most common being the abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs and knees, chin, upper arms, back, and calves after pumping several quarts, or liters, of a salt water solution underneath the skin of the area to be "sucked" out: "Tumescent liposuction involves pumping a solution beneath the skin which swells it to facilitate the suctioning out of the fat."

"Tumescent liposuctions are the most common cosmetic operations in the United States with over hundreds of thousands of such surgical operations done every year."

"The process of tumescent liposuction involves the breaking up and "sucking" out of fat from the body. This is done through a cannula (a hollow instrument) inserted subdermally (under the skin). A strong vacuum is then applied to the cannula."