Most plastic surgeries are done under anesthesia to numb the trauma of surgery and not allow the patient to feel a thing. Although it is beneficial, some people may also have some adverse reactions to the anesthesia, and this is the reason why there are people who fear it. The anesthesia that is used in different plastic surgeries also varies. It is important for patients to discuss with their surgeons about the kind of anesthesia that would be used during their surgery.
There are different types of anesthesia that can be employed during the surgery and each type has its own use. Local anesthesia is done for minor surgeries where the area is small and localized. With this kind of anesthesia, the patient is wide-awake but is numb in and around the surgical area.
Another type of anesthesia is the one that is introduced through the body through the intravenous method. This kind of anesthesia is done with various surgical procedures and puts patients to sleep or in a state where they feel very groggy. It is also possible that a local anesthesia will be used along with an IV sedation anesthesia.
The regional anesthesia is another kind of anesthesia that is injected around the large nerves to render a specific region of the body insensate. The anesthesiologist will inject the anesthesia in the spine of the patient to numb the area that is to be operated.
Lastly, there is also a general anesthesia that puts the patient to sleep until the surgery is done. The anesthesia helps manage pain and can be done through intravenous and through other inhaled gasses.
Regional anesthesia is often the preferred choice since most patients don’t want to undergo general anesthesia. This can already effectively block the sensation of the nerves of a certain part of the body during and after the plastic surgery. There are several benefits to using regional anesthesia as compared to other types of anesthesia, such as quicker recovery after the surgery and superior pain control. Due to its effectiveness in blocking out the pain, the amount of post-op pain medications the patients may have to take is reduced.
The regional anesthesia is administered before the plastic surgery and patients can either be sedated or alert while it is being administered. It is also possible that regional anesthesia can be combined with other anesthesia depending on the plastic surgery that would be done. This preference should be thoroughly discussed by patient and surgeon.
Anesthesia plays an important role because it allows for a pain-free surgery. It also helps patients to recover from surgery as the incisions made are still fresh. Once the anesthesia wears off, the surgeon will prescribe pain medication that can help their patients become more comfortable during their recovery. The more comfortable patients feel during the recovery, the faster the healing. Patients always have a choice with the type of anesthesia that will be used on them during the plastic surgery. They just need to talk it out with their surgeons to make an informed decision on the right kind of anesthesia that could give them the most benefits and minimize risks and harmful side effects.