Plastic surgeries are extremely popular at the moment. More and more people from all financial backgrounds are opting to go ‘under the knife’ as these processes are becoming increasingly cheaper. Only a decade ago, plastic surgeries were deemed ‘luxury’ procedures that only celebrities could afford. What happened in these ten years that made these processes so cheap? A lot of these price reductions have to do with advances in the field of anesthesiology.
Now, even patients with existing pathologies who previously weren’t eligible for these types of surgeries can get plastic surgeries. Advances in other fields like pharmacology and perioperative monitoring have made it easier for surgeons to prevent complications. These advancements, coupled with the rising demand for these procedures, have resulted in plastic and reconstructive surgeries becoming cheaper.
However, just because cosmetic surgical facilities charge less doesn’t mean you should get it. Since most of these surgical procedures involve the use of intravenous sedation, local, regional, or general anesthesia – patients must know whether their bodies are fit for anesthetic sedation. Or else, they mace complications like postoperative pain, pulmonary embolism, nausea, deep vein thrombosis, or vomiting. Don’t worry – these risks are very rare but knowing about them enables patients to know what they can expect once they walk into the surgery rooms.
Anesthesia in Cosmetic Surgery – Key Details
Anesthetic procedures aren’t as complicated as some think. Cosmetic surgeons or their P.As. inform their patients everything they need to know about getting anesthesia before the operation. Here are some details that they share during those discussions –
• Certain medications or supplements might interfere with anesthesia. So, in the week before the surgery, patients must avoid taking these items. In fact, patients mustn’t eat anything the night before their surgeries.
• The general side effects of anesthesia are faintness, nausea, and giddiness.
• General anesthesia can garble a patient’s memory for a few hours or even days. But, these effects quickly wear off and aren’t permanent.
• It’s nearly impossible for patients to wake up after getting general anesthesia. In the history of general anesthetics, only very few people have woken up.
• Surgeons use anesthetics, sedatives, neuro-stalling medications, or even narcotics to put their patients under anesthesia.
• Smokers and heavy drinkers may require more anesthesia than the average non-smoker or non-drinker before undergoing surgery.
• Cosmetic surgeons or their P.As. conduct pre-operation evaluations, which ensure the patients experience quick recoveries.
With new developments, anesthetic procedures have become extremely safe. The risk of unexpected complications is close to zero. What patients need to know is that not all types of anesthesia will render them unconscious. Only general anesthesia does that. The other types of anesthesia are –
• Local Anesthesia: Also known as ‘conscious sedation,’ local anesthesia is generally used in non-invasive procedures or less-invasive procedures. The surgeons give their patients medications that numb only small regions of their bodies. Patients stay fully awake after getting local anesthesia. If they feel any discomfort while certain parts of their bodies are being operated on, anesthesiologists inject regular doses of tranquilizers to eliminate the suffering. Getting local anesthesia right before the operation is a simple and quick process. Patients’ bodies don’t need to go through too much preparation as only a few compounds are put inside their bodies. Hence, the risks of complications are minimal. Before getting local anesthesia, your surgeon and anesthesiologist will study your medical history to ensure you don’t face allergic reactions. Local anesthesia is usually used in skin biopsies, wound stitching procedures, cosmetic face surgeries, hair implants, and liposuction.
• Regional Anesthesia: Commonly used in childbirth and procedures like C-sections, this form of anesthesia only numbs specific parts of the body. Anesthesiologists take the same precautionary steps they take while performing local anesthesia. Like local anesthesia, after getting regional anesthesia, patients are awake, and the process is absolutely safe.
• Intravenous Sedation: People suffering from anxiety or panic attacks can ruin cosmetic surgery processes. That’s why surgeons and anesthesiologists give intravenous sedation via polls or gas to patients who can’t stay calm during surgical procedures. Although patients are awake and capable of verbally communicating with surgeons during the procedure, they remain dazed and remember very little after the surgical procedure is over. People prone to allergic reactions to IV sedatives aren’t given these anesthetics. Other than that, most people don’t experience adverse effects after taking this form of anesthetics. Its effects wear off in twelve to twenty-four hours.
Anesthesia in Cosmetic Surgery – Is it Safe?
General anesthesia is the most preferred and most administered anesthesia method for cosmetic surgeons, especially in body transformation procedures (tummy tucks, liposuctions, etc.). The use of these anesthetics makes many cosmetic operations that were not practicable in the past practicable now.
The use of anesthetics in cosmetic surgeries is a practice that has endured countless challenges, advances, and innovations. All of these advances now make the use of anesthetics in cosmetic procedures completely safe and an invaluable tool to facilitate the quick recovery of patients. In simple terms – if you’re planning to undergo a cosmetic procedure and your surgeon recommends the use of anesthetics, there’s zero cause for concern.
Anesthesia for Plastic Surgery
Here are the plastic surgery procedures where cosmetic surgeons and anesthesiologists use different types of anesthesia and intravenous sedation.
• Facial Plastic Surgeries – Lip augmentation, chin/cheek implants, facelifts, eyelid surgeries, brow lifts, and other common facial reformation operations require the use of anesthetics. These sedatives are primarily used to make the patients feel safe and comfortable. Usually, local anesthesia is used in most aesthetic facial surgeries.
• Body Shaping Procedures – Liposuction, tummy tucks, ass lifts, and other body-transforming procedures require invasive anesthesia. Patients need to be totally unconscious during these operations, so general anesthetics may also be administered.
• Hair Transplants – Patients receive mild sedatives that keep them calm during hair transplants, as these processes typically taking hours to complete. Local anesthetics are applied to the scalp, and these sedatives have no negative side effects.
Cosmetic surgeons always assess their patients’ medical histories and partner with qualified anesthesiologists to recommend the type of anesthesia that suits your body the most. These qualified experts always work to minimize the risks of complications and never prescribe doses that don’t suit your body.
