Anaesthesia in Cosmetic Surgery: What Types Are There, What Risks Should You Know About, and How to Prepare
If you’re thinking about getting cosmetic surgery, you’re essentially embarking on an exciting journey to change how you look and feel. One of the main things that helps make this journey comfortable and pain-free is anaesthesia. Nervous about this part? You’re certainly not alone.
Feeling anxious is completely normal, but at Centre for Surgery in London, we’re here to help ease those worries. Using anaesthesia during cosmetic surgery is not just safe; it’s also crucial for achieving the results you’ve been dreaming about.
The good news? You’ve got choices when it comes to anaesthesia. There are different types available, and each one is designed to make your surgical experience as relaxed and comfortable as possible.
In this article, we’ll discuss the different options for anaesthesia during plastic surgery, explain how they work, and discuss their benefits and risks. We’ll also offer some guidance on how to prepare for anaesthesia—both before and after your cosmetic surgery.
Our ultimate goal is to make sure you’re fully informed and confident at every stage of your surgical journey.
RELATED: Anaesthesia for Cosmetic Surgery
Exploring the Different Types of Anaesthesia Used in Plastic Surgery
First, let’s answer the question: What exactly is anaesthesia? In simple terms, anaesthesia is used to prevent you from feeling any pain or discomfort during your surgery. There are mainly two kinds of anaesthesia that you should know about:
General Anaesthesia
General anaesthesia is the most commonly known type, and it’s designed to make you completely unconscious—akin to a deep, dreamless sleep. While you’re “under,” you won’t feel a thing, not even the slightest sensation.
This kind of anaesthesia is typically used for more complex and time-consuming surgeries. These may include procedures like rhinoplasty, facelift, breast augmentation, tummy tuck and BBL surgery. Because these surgeries are more invasive and lengthy, general anaesthesia ensures you’re completely unaware and free of any discomfort or pain throughout the procedure.
Local Anaesthesia
Unlike general anaesthesia, local anaesthesia targets a specific area of your body, numbing only that particular region. The rest of you stays alert and awake. You might feel a touch of pressure, but you definitely won’t feel any pain.
Local anaesthesia is usually the preferred choice for shorter, less invasive procedures. For example, if you’re getting an otoplasty, a lip lift, or facial buccal fat removal, local anaesthesia is often all that’s needed. Because these procedures are relatively quick and don’t involve significant alterations to your body, local anaesthesia with or without oral sedation offers sufficient comfort while allowing you to stay conscious and comfortable.
Understanding How Anaesthesia Functions: Objectives, Mechanisms, and Trust in Our Expertise
When it comes to anaesthesia, there are three core aims:
- Analgesia: This means ensuring you don’t feel any pain during your procedure.
- Amnesia: The goal here is to make sure you have no awareness or memory of the surgery while under the influence of anaesthesia.
- Muscle Relaxation: This allows your muscles to relax, making it easier for the surgeon to carry out the procedure.
In the case of local and regional anaesthesia, the mechanism works by blocking the pain signals from reaching your brain. General anaesthesia operates similarly but achieves this by inhibiting a particular protein that facilitates communication between neurons (nerve cells).
What’s fascinating is that the science behind anaesthesia is still a growing field. Research is continually being conducted to understand its full mechanisms and to make it even safer and more effective.
This is where Centre for Surgery truly stands out. Our state-of-the-art surgical practice is backed by a reputation for meticulous care, coupled with extensive experience and expertise in the field. We believe that part of that expertise involves being fully informed about the risks and benefits of anaesthesia so you can feel secure in your decision.
The Advantages of Anaesthesia: Comfort, Precision, and Tailored Benefits
One of the most significant benefits of anaesthesia is the comfort and painlessness it provides during your surgery. Additionally, it assists your surgeon in achieving optimal results by ensuring you remain still throughout the procedure.
Different types of anaesthesia come with their own set of advantages:
General Anaesthesia:
- Facilitates Complex Procedures: General anaesthesia allows for longer, more intricate surgeries to take place by putting you in a state of deep unconsciousness.
- Vital Monitoring: While you’re under general anaesthesia, your surgical team can continuously monitor vital signs like your breathing and blood pressure, ensuring a safer surgical experience.
Local Anaesthesia:
- Efficiency and Safety: Local anaesthesia enables quicker, less invasive procedures to be carried out. Because you’re awake, the surgical team doesn’t need to monitor you as closely as they would if you were under general anaesthesia.
- Cost-Effective: Procedures done under local anaesthesia often cost less because they usually don’t require an extended hospital stay or additional monitoring.
- Easier Preparation and Recovery: Typically, surgeries under local anaesthesia require less preparation time and offer quicker recovery periods.
Of course, like any medical procedure, anaesthesia does come with its own set of potential risks and safety considerations. However, the key is to be aware and well-informed, which is something we at Centre for Surgery prioritise. By understanding the benefits and risks associated with each type of anaesthesia, you’ll be better equipped to make an informed choice about your surgical procedure.
Understanding the Risks and Safety Measures of Anaesthesia in Plastic Surgery
While anaesthesia is generally considered safe, like any medical intervention, it comes with its own set of potential risks and side effects. For the vast majority of patients, severe complications are uncommon. More frequently, you might experience some minor post-operative side effects, which can include:
- Bruising, soreness, or itchiness at the injection site
- Nausea
- Dry or sore throat
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Shivering or chills
- Difficulty urinating
- Confusion, disorientation, or drowsiness after the surgery
The good news is that these side effects often resolve quickly after the operation. To help mitigate issues like postoperative nausea and vomiting, you may be given antiemetic medications before the surgery.
Some types of anaesthesia carry greater risks than others. For example, general anaesthesia comes with potential hazards like allergic reactions, nerve injury, or even the extremely rare possibility of regaining consciousness during surgery. However, such instances are very uncommon.
Certain individuals may have heightened risk factors for anaesthesia complications. For example, smokers or those with specific medical conditions may not be ideal candidates for plastic surgery, increasing their risk levels.
Safety is paramount when it comes to administering anaesthesia. To ensure the highest level of care, your surgical team will generally include a highly trained anaesthetist, particularly if general anaesthesia is used. At Centre for Surgery, we place a premium on being meticulous in our preparation and procedure to give you peace of mind, knowing you’re in the best possible hands for your surgery.
The Role of the Anaesthetist in Cosmetic Surgery: Ensuring Comfort and Safety
An anaesthetist is a medical doctor with specialised training in the field of anaesthesia. Their primary responsibility in the context of cosmetic surgery is to ensure your utmost comfort and safety at every stage of your surgical journey—before, during, and after the procedure.
Ensuring Patient Comfort
- Pre-Surgery Consultation: The anaesthetist will discuss any concerns or questions you might have before your surgery. They will also walk you through what to expect, putting your mind at ease.
- Smooth Transitions: The anaesthetist will ensure you smoothly transition into and out of the anaesthetised state. They will be by your side to manage the anaesthesia levels throughout the surgery to maintain your comfort.
- Postoperative Care: Should any side effects occur after the procedure, such as nausea or dizziness, the anaesthetist is equipped to manage and treat these promptly to ensure your quick recovery.
Prioritising Safety
- Pre-Surgery Assessment: The anaesthetist will meticulously review all your screening information, including any existing health conditions, medications you’re taking, and your medical history.
- Tailored Plans: Working closely with the surgical team, the anaesthetist will recommend the most suitable type, dosage, and technique of anaesthesia based on your specific needs and the requirements of the procedure.
- Monitoring: During the surgery, the anaesthetist will continuously monitor vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate, adjusting the anaesthesia as needed for your safety.
At Centre for Surgery, we collaborate only with highly trained and respected anaesthetists who share our commitment to patient safety and comfort. You can be confident that every detail, including the type and administration of your anaesthesia, is carefully curated to provide you with a comfortable and safe surgical experience.
Getting Ready for Anaesthesia in Cosmetic Surgery: What to Expect at Every Step
Before anaesthesia is even considered, the first stop is a one-on-one consultation with one of our specialist plastic surgeons at our Baker Street clinic in London. During this consultation, you’ll discuss your goals for the surgery, ask any questions you may have, and collaboratively create a personalised surgical plan.
Pre-Surgery Instructions and Guidelines
You will receive detailed pre-operative instructions that will cover various aspects like:
- Medications you should or shouldn’t take before the surgery
- Dietary guidelines, such as whether you should fast or eat a light meal
- Transportation logistics for the day of the surgery, including whether you’ll need someone to drive you home
Pre-Operative Screening
This is an essential phase where our medical team reviews your:
- Medical history to identify any pre-existing conditions or risks
- Current medications to avoid any interactions with the anaesthesia
- Known allergies to avoid allergic reactions
- Lifestyle habits such as smoking or drinking, as these can affect how you react to anaesthesia
- Previous experiences with anaesthesia, if any, to better tailor the anaesthesia plan to your needs
Anaesthesia Planning
Your plastic surgeon will collaborate closely with your anaesthetist to determine the best anaesthesia plan tailored specifically for you. This involves selecting the type, dosage, and technique that best suits the surgical procedure you’re undergoing and any individual health considerations you may have.
The Operating Room and Administration
Once in the operating room, our team will carefully explain each step of the anaesthesia process so you’ll know exactly what to expect. You’ll then be connected to an intravenous (IV) cannula, which is a small tube inserted into a vein, usually in your arm. This IV cannula will administer the anaesthesia medication, and from there, your surgical journey will commence.
What Happens During Surgery: Understanding Your Anaesthesia Experience
During the surgical procedure, your experience will vary depending on the type of anaesthesia you’ve been administered.
Local Anaesthesia
If you’re given local anaesthesia, you can expect it to take between 15 to 30 minutes to fully take effect. You will be awake during the procedure but won’t feel pain in the specific area that has been numbed.
Some patients do feel a bit drowsy or even drift into light sleep, especially if the local anaesthesia is combined with a sedative. A sedative is a medication that helps you relax and reduces any anxiety you might have, making the procedure more comfortable for you.
General Anaesthesia
For those undergoing general anaesthesia, the process is faster. You will usually become unconscious within just a minute or two after the anaesthesia is administered through an intravenous (IV) cannula.
Once you’re under, you’ll be connected to a breathing tube as well as other monitoring equipment. This allows your anaesthetist to continuously track vital signs like your blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels. The anaesthetist will regulate these vitals and the level of anaesthesia throughout the surgery to ensure your safety and comfort.
Monitoring and Adjustments
Regardless of the type of anaesthesia used, rest assured that a highly trained anaesthetist will be by your side throughout the entire procedure. They are responsible for closely monitoring your condition and can make real-time adjustments to the anaesthesia as needed.
Recovering After Anaesthesia: What to Expect Post-Plastic Surgery
Getting back to normal after undergoing anaesthesia is crucial for avoiding any complications and ensuring your recovery is as smooth as possible.
Local Anaesthesia
If you’ve had local anaesthesia, it usually wears off naturally over time. During this period, you’ll be observed for any possible side effects. The good news is that most patients are able to leave the clinic on their own the very same day.
General Anaesthesia
For those who have been given general anaesthesia, waking up is generally a gentle experience. Your anaesthetist will administer medications that reverse the effects of the anaesthesia and remove your breathing tube.
When you wake up, your experience may differ from others. You might feel a bit disoriented, sleepy, or even a bit emotional. However, these symptoms are usually short-lived. Your medical team will keep an eye on you, watching for any side effects and treating them if needed.
Remember, it takes about 24 hours for general anaesthesia to mostly leave your system and up to a week for it to be completely eliminated.
Special Arrangements
If you’re travelling from a distance for your procedure, it’s advised to plan a stay for at least one to two weeks, depending on the type of surgery you’re having. Centre for Surgery has partnerships with local hotels and offers a selection of specialist nursing staff to help you make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Discharge and Home Care
When you’re ready to go home, you’ll be provided with comprehensive post-operative instructions and any necessary prescriptions for medications you may need after surgery.
For the first few days following the surgery, it’s best to have someone around to help you out. Rest is key; avoid any heavy lifting, strenuous activities, and driving. Also, it’s advisable to steer clear of alcohol during this time.
Returning to Normal Life
Don’t worry; it won’t be long before you’re back to your everyday life. Only now will you be a renewed, rejuvenated version of yourself!
Why Choose Centre for Surgery: Where Exceptional Care Meets Outstanding Results
When it comes to undergoing a transformative journey like plastic surgery, the right care and expertise make all the difference. At Centre for Surgery, we understand that anaesthesia and patient comfort are paramount. That’s why we’re committed to delivering a seamless, top-tier experience that promises safety, comfort, and astonishing results.
Your Concerns, Our Priority
We get it—anaesthesia can be nerve-wracking. For some, the idea of “going under” can be more intimidating than the actual surgical procedure. Rest assured, our compassionate and highly experienced team is here to alleviate your concerns, providing comprehensive guidance and support at each stage of your surgical journey.
What Our Patients Are Saying
Don’t just take our word for it—listen to what our satisfied patients have to say:
- Sarah, Breast Augmentation Patient “I can’t thank the team at Centre for Surgery enough. From the consultation to the post-op care, they were phenomenal. And I couldn’t be happier with the results!”
- David, Rhinoplasty Patient “My entire experience was top-notch. I felt supported and well-informed throughout the process. The attention to detail was incredible.”
- Emily, Tummy Tuck Patient “I had been apprehensive about anaesthesia, but the anaesthetist took the time to walk me through everything. I felt so comfortable and at ease, making the entire experience better than I could have imagined.”
Ready to embark on a journey to a new you?
Book Your Consultation Today
Contact us to schedule your one-on-one consultation at our Baker Street clinic:
📞 Phone: 0207 993 4849
📧 Email: contact@centreforsurgery.com
More Information
- About Us: For more on why Centre for Surgery is the right choice for you, visit our About Us page.
- Finance Options: Achieving your aesthetic dreams shouldn’t break the bank. Explore our Finance Options, including 0% APR with Chrysalis Finance.
- Plastic Surgery Blog: Keep yourself updated with the latest in plastic surgery trends and tips on our Blog.
- Clinic FAQs: Have more questions? Find answers in our Frequently Asked Questions.
When you choose Centre for Surgery, you’re not just a patient—you’re a valued individual deserving of exceptional care. We look forward to being part of your transformative journey.
