Depending on the type of plastic surgery procedure, you may have a choice as to what kind of anesthesia you can have administered. Of course, in many cases, the choice is already made for you. For instance, breast augmentation requires the use of a sedative, whereas a collagen injection will only require a topical analgesic.

Before you schedule your cosmetic plastic surgery, you should always have an initial consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon in order to go over all of your anesthesia options.

In addition, it never hurts to learn what you can on your own.

Anesthesia Options for Facial Plastic Surgery

There are four main categories of anesthesia used in plastic surgery. They include local anesthesia, regional anesthesia, general anesthesia and sedation.

Local Anesthesia and Facial Plastic Surgery

Local anesthesia is administered in the form of an injection. It is typically used to numb a generalized area for procedures like lip augmentation. Certain procedures, such as rhinoplasty, incorporate local anesthesia with sedation.

One of the most popular forms of local anesthesia is Lidocaine. Local anesthesia may be available in the form of creams or topical applications.

Regional Anesthesia and Facial Plastic Surgery

True to its name, regional anesthesia affects a region of the body. One of the most commonly used forms of regional anesthesia is the spinal anesthesia administered to pregnant women during childbirth. The benefit of regional anesthesia is that it will reduce or remove the pain from a certain region of the body while the patient is able to be fully awake.

For facial plastic surgery, regional anesthesia is often necessary for such procedures as chemical peels, lip reductions and brow lifts. The anesthesiologist administers the medication through an injection into a bundle of nerves, hence the use of the term “nerve block.”

General Anesthesia and Facial Plastic Surgery
There are two different ways to administer general anesthesia: the inhalation of a gas or intravenous liquid. The anesthesiologist will use his or her experience and the patient’s weight and vitals to determine the appropriate level of anesthesia.

Sedation and Facial Plastic Surgery

There are three types of sedation used in facial plastic surgery: oral, gas or intravenous. Intravenous sedation is typically a cocktail of various medications created specifically for that patient.

One of the most popular ingredients in intravenous sedation is Versed. Oral versions of sedation will often include medications like Valium. When administered by gas inhalation (laughing gas), the dose is typically much lower. In general, sedation helps to calm the nerves and serves to reduce the patient’s memory of the surgery.

That’s why you cannot remember anything about the surgery when you awake once the procedure is complete.

Understand Your Anesthesia Options Before Your Plastic Surgery

When you are in the stage of choosing your plastic surgeon, you should only choose one who is board certified. You should also only choose a surgeon who incorporates a separate anesthesiologist. This is very important because anesthesiology requires a dedicated specialist.

A properly trained anesthesiologist can determine the right amount of anesthesia for each individual patient.

Simply put, using a separate anesthesiologist for your procedure will greatly improve your experience and reduce the chance of complications.

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