Liposuction Surgery – General vs. Local Anesthesia

Liposuction Surgery AnesthesiaAnesthesia itself is a scary prospect to many people planning to undergo a surgical procedure including liposuction in New York City. Liposuction surgery is provided both under general anesthesia and local anesthesia. Usually, the type of procedure you are undergoing determines the type of anesthesia you will receive. Researches in the field have shown that local anesthesia is the safer option because it presents minimal complications or risks for the patient. Moreover, it allowed patients to remain awake throughout the procedure and get back quickly to a normal routine.

General vs. Local Anesthesia

General anesthesia is provided by injecting medication directly into the veins, and this makes the patient go to sleep during surgery. This type of anesthesia is preferred when there are large volumes of fat to remove. Compared to local anesthesia, it lasts for a much longer period and recovery from the effects of anesthesia may be longer. Local anesthesia is given by injecting a numbing medicine directly into the treatment area so that the area becomes completely numb.

An increasing number of patients prefer to have their procedure done under local anesthesia because of its safety and the shorter recovery period ensured. When considering body contouring in NYC, it is best to find a plastic surgery facility where procedures such as Brazilian butt lift (BBL), chin tuck, arm lift etc. that involves liposuction are provided under local anesthesia. Under local anesthesia, the patient may feel only a slight pressure when the procedure is being performed. Most patients even talk to their plastic surgeons throughout the procedure. When the procedure is done under local anesthesia, the patient wakes up immediately after the procedure and experiences only minimum pain or discomfort. Traditional liposuction provided under general anesthesia requires a longer period of time to wake up, and the patient typically wakes up in pain. Recovery period is also longer.

There are select plastic surgery facilities in New York City that provides liposuction under local anesthesia using advanced techniques such as Smartlipo, BodyTite, and Vaser lipo among others. It is best to have the procedure done in a plastic surgery center that has a reputation for having performed the maximum number of cosmetic procedures under local anesthesia. The plastic surgeon providing the procedure must be trained and experienced so you can expect the best results. A good plastic surgeon will explain to you the advantages of local anesthesia vs. general anesthesia, and which type of anesthesia is ideal for your particular procedure.