Anesthesia Options for Plastic Surgery Patients
Patients in and around Minneapolis know that they can trust the team at Mesna Plastic Surgery. They offer advanced facial plastic surgery to remove lines and wrinkles as well as the latest in body contouring and breast enhancement.
When performing minor and major procedures, pain management is always an important factor to consider. With that in mind, we'd like to go over some of the different kinds of anesthesia that may be used during an aesthetic enhancement procedure.
Local Anesthesia
Local anesthetic is used in the area that is being treated. It helps reduce pain and discomfort in that immediate part of the body, and in the process also helps patients remain calm and relaxed during the treatment process.
Local anesthetic is most common for minor or minimally invasive treatments that may involve a little bit of pain but not a significant amount of pain. This includes any kind of procedure involving the removal of bumps or moles, scar removal procedures, and surgeries that involve treating the earlobes. Some dermal filler injections may involve the use of some local anesthetic depending on the nature of treatment.
Twilight Anesthesia Using IV Sedation
The next type of anesthetic that may be used is IV sedation, which some people refer to as twilight anesthesia. This kind of anesthesia is administered intravenously, with the patient conscious but not fully aware of his or her surroundings during treatment. IV sedation is commonly combined with local anesthetic during a procedure to minimize sensations of pain and to maintain feelings of relaxation and ease.
IV sedation is commonly used when a surgeon performs facelift or neck lift, fat transfer procedures, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, and liposuction. Keep in mind that the recommended use of IV sedation can vary from patient to patient.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is used when a patient will need to be completely unconscious during a procedure, offering total lack of awareness of surroundings and the surgery being performed. A patient is effectively knocked out for the duration of the surgery, and then comes out of general anesthetic after the procedure has been performed. Local anesthetic will also be used to eliminate pain in the treatment area during the procedure.
General anesthesia is commonly used while patients are undergoing major surgeries, such as tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), breast enhancement surgeries (i.e., breast implants or breast lift), major liposuction, and major facial plastic surgery procedures.
Prepping for Surgery and Preventing Complications
Great care is taken prior to any surgical procedure, with advanced planning to prevent complications related to anesthetic. This includes checking for allergies and potential contraindications with medications, and also considering the best option for the patient given his or her needs and aesthetic goals.
Ensuring Patients Have Transportation Arranged
After undergoing IV sedation or being put under with general anesthesia, patients will typically not be in a fit condition to operate a vehicle. This is why it's important to arrange for transportation after undergoing a plastic surgery procedure. This is part of the pre-planning process, and just one of many ways that we can ensure that patients are safe following the procedure and can really begin the healing process.
Schedule a Consultation at Mesna Plastic Surgery
To learn more about your many options for aesthetic enhancement, be sure to contact our cosmetic skin care and plastic surgery center today. The team at Mesna Plastic Surgery looks forward to your visit and helping you achieve the best results possible with regard to your overall appearance.