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Is Abdominoplasty Anesthesia Dangerous?

asked 10 months ago by anon
Latest answer by Johan E. Brahme, MD
Question viewed 428 times
Tags: complication, dangers, surgery, type

What type of anesthesia, general or local, do doctors use when performing an abdominoplasty? What are the risks of this anesthesia method?

19 answers to Is Abdominoplasty Anesthesia Dangerous?

Anesthesia for tummy tuck - minimizing the risk

Most doctors use a combination of local anesthesia and general anesthesia for a tummy tuck. This enables the anesthesiologist to give a lighter anesthetic. To reduce the risk to its lowest, patients should follow preoperative instructions carefully, including not smoking, optimizing their health (diet and exercise), minimizing any medical problems (such as hypertension), stopping hormone supplementation, etc. Board certified plastic surgeons performing the... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Tummy tuck anesthesia

Conventional tummy tucks as well as extended abdominoplasties and belt lift operations are usually done either under general or spinal anesthesia . If supervised or done by a board certified anesthesiologists in a certified/controlled facility is considered to be a safe procedure. The risk of serious complications are less than one in ten thousands. If there is and history of malignant hyperthermia in the family general anesthesia should be avoided.

Fereydoon S. Mahjouri, MD
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Anesthesia for tummy tuck

I think most surgeons use general anesthesia for tummy tuck, although there are other options, as indicated above. There are many resources that can describe risks of anesthesia, but the bottom line is that general anesthesia, when performed by a physician anesthesiologist in a busy, well staffed, and well stocked facility, is quite safe. As you research your planned surgery, be sure to make the facility and anesthesiology choices part of your research.

James Nachbar, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.plastic.org

Anesthgesia for tummy tuck.

Most use general anesthesia for tummy tucks. The anesthesia, if provided by a board certified anesthesiologist should be very safe in most cases. Bad reactions or complication from anesthesia are very rare. You will most likely be able to discuss this with your anesthesiologist prior to your procedure.

David Nicholas Csikai, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Anesthesia risks for Abdominoplasty need to be evaluated for each patient.

All surgery involves some risk. Abdominoplasty surgery is nearly always done under general anesthesia or occasionally under regional anesthesia such as epidural and spinal anesthesia. This surgery is extremely safe in healthy patients and should only be done in a hospital or a fully accredited surgery facility and with Board or Royal College Certified Anesthesiologists as part of the team. All Plastic Surgeons should be willing to speak with you about strategies... more

Mathew C. Mosher, MD
Vancouver Plastic Surgeon

www.drmosher.com

Anesthesia Options for Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a fairly large surgery that normally requires general anesthesia in conjunction with some local anesthetic for control of the local blood vessels. I prefer a general anesthetic because your muscles need to be relaxed to perform a good tightening of them during the procedure. If your muscles dont need tightening, then a local with sedation might be sufficient. The risks of general anesthesia are very small in a healthy patient, and if you... more

Vincent P. Marin, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

What type of anesthesia is needed for Abdominoplasty?

Abdominoplasty is normally done under general anesthesia however I have done many under epidural. The epidural catheter could be left in place for post operative pain control. A mini abdominoplasty can be done under local anesthesia with sedation.

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD
Morristown Plastic Surgeon

Anesthesia for tummy tucks

I prefer a general anesthetic for all my tummy tucks. It should be administered by a board certified anesthesiologist. It is by far the safest and most comfortable option. I would strongly discourage any patient to have this procedure under sedation or "twighlight" anesthesia, the risks are much higher without general anesthesia

Johan E. Brahme, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Anesthesia for abdominoplasty

I always use general anesthesia for a full abdominoplasty. i think the risk of dvt, pe after the surgery is higher than the risk of general anesthesia, there is risk driving to the store. you have to decide it is worth the risk

Jonathan Saunders, MD
Newark Plastic Surgeon

www.drjonathansaunders.com

Abdominoplasty anesthesia

I prefer general anesthesia for abdominoplasty. With the proper MD anesthesiologist general anesthesia is extremely safe. Donaldr R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.

Donald Nunn, MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Anesthesia for Tummy Tuck

I do all my Tummy Tucks under general anesthesia. It is only way to do a proper Tummy Tuck operation. It is safe if given by properly qualified anesthesiologist and operation is done in properly accredited surgical facility. It is extremely important that you choose a properly trained Plastic Surgeon. A good surgeon will make sure that you have competent anesthesioligist and accredited facility. Trust your doctor and don't try to microthink details. Leave those to... more

Vasdev Rai, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck Anesthesia Varies

Smaller tummy tucks which entail lower skin resection and upper liposuction may be performed under local tumescent anesthesia. Possibly a stitch or two may be placed into the muscle to do minor tightening. Local anesthesia with sedation may be used for a bigger tummy tuck and some muscle work. Local anesthesia is used in the muscle where the stitches are needed for tightening. Larger tummy tucks are performed under general anesthesia with some local anesthesia used to keep... more

Keith Denkler, MD
Marin Plastic Surgeon

What anesthesia for TT?

All surgeons have reasons for doing one thing or another, however in the literature there is good evidence that many different anesthetics can be employed safely and effectively. I recommend you do your due diligence in choosing the doctor and allow him/her to tailor the anesthetic for your procedure.

Rafael C. Cabrera, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Anesthesia for tummy tuck

General anesthesia is the norm. Epidural or spinal anesthesia may be used, however. Always insist on and an ABMS Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and an ABMS Board Certified Anesthesiologist, the latter being arguably the more important!

J. Brian Boyd, MD
Torrance Plastic Surgeon

General Anesthesia

Tummy Tuck is almost always prerformed under general anesthesia. It is difficult for the patient if local anesthesia with IV sedation or epidural anesthesia is used. This is so commonlly done that it is very safe. Just be sure you are seeing a board certified plastic surgeon and that his/her surgical facility is certified by their state and one other certified group, such as AAAASF.

E. Anthony Musarra II, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Anesthesia for tummy tuck is not dangerous

Cosmetic surgery always contains risks, though risk are manageable. For the majority, general anesthesia is the norm for a tummy tuck, and the procedure is quite safe. Just as you select your surgeon though, remember to choose a facility that is accredited and committed to safety. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Anesthesia Risk For Tummy Tuck

I do essentially all tummy tucks under general anesthesia. There is obviously some risk always with a general anesthetic, but I believe that the risk for other types of anesthesia for this procedure are as high or greater. If the surgery is performed in an accredited facility or hospital, the risk of general anesthesia should be minimal assuming the patient is otherwise reasonably healthy.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Abdominoplasty Anesthesia Varies With Patient and Surgeon

With regards to anesthesia for an abdominoplasty, it depends on a number of factors - the patient, the extent of the surgery, the surgeon, etc. All methods of anesthesia are safe when done on the apropriate patient in a safe and controlled manner. Generally speaking, the larger the surgery, the more you need to manipulate the tissues, the greater the need for general anesthesia. Under general anesthesia, you can paralyze the muscles of the abdominal wall to facilitate... more

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD
Barrington Plastic Surgeon

General anesthesia for most tummy tucks

All of my patients have a GA with a physician anesthesiologist. If you are healthy and are having the surgery done by an experienced surgeon in an accredited facility with an MD anesthesiologist, you should be very safe. It takes me under 2 hours to do the surgery so it isn't too long. I would be wary if the doctor said it would take more than 4 hours as this seems excessively long and may indicate inexperience.