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Can an Alarplasty Be Done Under Local Anasthesia?

asked 4 months ago by RBrownBH in Beverly Hills, CA
Latest answer by Paul S. Nassif, MD
Question viewed 549 times
Tags: alarplasty, local anesthesia

Im curious as to whether alarplasty can be done under local anasthesia? Can any rhinoplasty be done this way?

22 answers to Can an Alarplasty Be Done Under Local Anasthesia?

Alarplasty under Local Anesthesia

An alarplasty can be done under local anesthesia. Although some form of a light general anesthetic is used in most cases, a complete rhinoplasty requires at least some sort of sedation.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Alarplasty with Local Anesthesia

Hello, Yes, it is possible to perform this procedure under local anesthesia. Rhinoplasty can also be performed under local anesthesia. During a consultation, your options will be discussed with your surgeon and he/she will help you choose the best possible option depending on your individual circumstances. Thank you and best of luck to you. Dr. Nassif

Paul S. Nassif, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Alarplasty can be done under local anesthesia

Certainly an alarplasty can be done under local anesthesia since the area being operated upon is simply located at the base of the nose. Any remainder of the nose is very difficult to completely numb, so it is best to have a full rhinoplasty done under general anesthesia.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Alarplasty under local anesthesia

If you mean narrowing the alae (Weir procedure) then it certainly it can be done under local. If you mean tip plasty then perhaps some sedation would be advisable. For complete rhinoplasty it maybe more comfortable to do under general anesthesia although conscious sedation is also acceptable. The most important point is the experience of the surgeon

Andrew Pichler, MD
Sacramento Facial Plastic Surgeon

facedr.com

Nasal surgery under local anesthesia

Nasal surgery can definitely be performed under local anesthesia. Typically general anesthesia would be used if some internal functional work needs to be performed at the same time. More importantly, make sure that the choice of local anesthesia does not dictate what type of surgery is done for the optimal results. Excellence in nasal surgery requires, experience, talent and wealth of experience, make sure your surgeon has all of the above. Do... more

Boris M. Ackerman, MD
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.doctorackerman.com

Limited Rhinoplasty Nasal Reductions are Very Possible With Local

I would say that most patients will tolerate reduction alar surgeries under local. By that I refer to techniques designed to reduce the size of the tip, refine the tip, reduce nostril size etc. Weir incisions and alar base reductions are commonly completed under a local anesthetic in an operative suite. Composite grafts or other surgeries to increase the tip size, projection, etc., are usually best performed under a general for the comfort and safety of the patient. Great... more

Todd Christopher Hobgood, MD
Phoenix Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.toddhobgood.com

Local anesthesia is often effective for limited rhinoplasty procedures.

Local anesthesia is often used for smaller nasal procedures like alarplasty. I often give patients minimal oral sedation with Xanax or Valium to relax them prior to injecting their nose with local anesthesia that can sting and burn. Once the nose is numb and you are relaxed alarplasty can be done comfortably.

Laurie Casas, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Performing alarplasty with local anesthesia

Yes, limited alar base reduction (such as wedge excisions) can be done with an injection of numbing medicine in certain situations. A large determinant of whether it's a good idea to do a procedure like this with only local anestesia is the patient's motivation and demeanor.

Thomas A Lamperti, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty

That depends on what you mean by an alarplasty. If it is just removing a small wedge of skin to narrow the alar base sure that can be done under local. If fine manipulations of the alar cartilages are required with shaping sutures and/or cartilage grafts I would not advise doing it under straight local anesthesia if you want a reliable result. More invasive rhinoplasty procedures with infractures etc. are actually safer when performed under general anesthesia. That is because if blood from... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Alarplasty Under Local Anesthesia

While alar plastycan be done under local anesthesia as an office procedure, most forms of rhinoplasty can not and should not be done that way. It is neither pleasant nor always completely effective to have your nose numbed with local anesthesia by injections. This is where sedation or general anesthesia have a very useful role. Always remember that one has surgery to get the best result, not to see how little anesthesia one can have.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

Alarplasty under local

An alarplasty can be done under local for the right patient. The injection of local and the idea that someone is operating on you makes it good reason to have sedation.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Alarplasty under local anesthesia?

Thank you for your question. Yes, alarplasty and rhinoplasty can certainly be performed under local anesthesia. The only reason that we give any sedative medication or general anesthesia is to help with any fears or apprehension concerning the operation.

Donald M. Brown, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Alarplasty can be done under local anesthesia

Alarplasty can absolutely be done under local anesthesia. I would recommend some oral sedation to make this more comfortable. Warmest regards. Dr. Pippin

Gregory Pippin, MD
New Orleans Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.pippinmd.com

Alarplasty under local anesthesia

Alarplasty can be done under a local anesthesia, and so can a rhinoplasty if you are courageous. Sedation will improve the experience for most. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Alarplasty under local anesthesia

Yes, alarplasty can be performed under local anesthesia. Select patients can even undergo full rhinoplasty under local anesthesia, although I prefer general anesthesia for these.

William H. Gorman, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon

www.whgormanmd.com

Alarplasty

Yes, under the right circumstances in the right patient, an alarplasty can be done under local anesthesia. It really has to do with your anxiety level, ability to remain calm if you are awake having surgery and what other procedures you are having at the same time. That said, IV sedation or "twilight anesthesa," is a nice alternative to general anesthesia for small procedures which can be done in the office if the surgeon has a accrediated OR facility... more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Local anesthesia for alar base reduction

Hi, Nostril narrowing, often called alarplasty or alar base reduction, can be done fairly easily under local anesthesia for most patients. All you will feel is a little numbing procedure at the beginning like going to the dentist for freezing. The rest of the procedure should be painless and generally takes about an hour. A full rhinoplasty, on the other hand, will generally be best tolerated with at least some intravenous sedation and usually a general anesthetic. Best, more

Jason Litner, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Alarplasty

Yes, alarplasty can be performed under local anesthesia while you are awake. I prefer to do it this way. For rhinoplasty, it depends on what you are trying to achieve.

Kimberly Lee, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Alarplasty and rhinoplasty can be done under local anesthesia

For the right patient, any portion of a rhinoplasty, including an alarplasty, can be done with local anesthesia.

Anurag Agarwal, MD
Naples Facial Plastic Surgeon

Nose Reshaping Under Local Anesthesia

Yes, alar reshaping can be done under straight local anesthesia. However, rhinoplasty reshaping of the nasal tip and bridge does necessitate going under a full anesthetic in order to be done under ideal conditions.

John M. Hilinski, MD
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drhilinski.com

Alarplasty

If you are calm enough to handle the idea of being awake, an alarplasty can be done under straight local anesthesia. The injections there hurt a little but rapidly become numb.