Facelift: Q&A
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IV Sedation and Local Anesthesia Safe Option for Facelift?
I realise that the purely medical risks are less than general anesthesia, but isn't sedation risky in terms of a possibility, however small, for the patient to actually wake up mid-operation? Or of reaction to the sedation (e.g. restlessness) while actually being operated on? It sounds slightly scary to be semi-conscious during a lengthy, hours long procedure for a facelift. What is your advice, please?
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11 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
jacqui-f
in Norfolk, UK
+3
Anesthesia options for facelift
I always offer my patients either General Anesthesia or Monitored Anesthesia Care, both with Board Certified Anesthesiology providers, as options for their facelifts. If they do not express a preference, I prefer MAC as the absence of an endotracheal tube certainly expedites the necklift portion. In my practice, I am fortunate to work with exceptionally talented anesthesiologists who "dose" the IV sedation using the usual noninvasive monitors, (blood pressure, electrocardiogram,...
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General anesthesia is preferred and is more comfortable for patients
Respiratory depression and respiratory arrest can occur when patients are partially awake and partially asleep. It is actually safer to be asleep under general anesthesia with a board-certified physician anesthesiologist than it is to be half asleep and half awake. Patient awareness and consciousness of what is going on is a very real issue, so the safest option is to be put to sleep under general anesthetic.
+2
It depends on the surgeon and the surgery.
We do all of our regular facelifts under general anesthesia combined with local. In that way the depth of anesthesia needs to be much less. We also like to be able to control the airway.
For mini lifts in some patients, I will do them strictly under local after they have taken oral valium. If I use IV anesthesia I ALWAYS have it done by an anesthetist since I only want to focus on my job, not two.
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I.V. sedation is my prefered technique for both reasons of safety and comfort
Virtually all my facelifts for the past 15 years have been done with i.v. sedation and local anesthesia.
There are major advantages:
Safer throught the procedure
very nfrequent nausea afterward
You have the local anesthesia in your tissues so that when the operation is complete there is less pain
No distortion of the face from the tubes or masks needed for general anesthesia
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Anesthesia depends on the comfort of your surgeon
Dear Jacqui
It is certainly possible to perform a facelift under IV sedation. It is also possible to perform a facelift under just local anesthetic. The choice of anesthetic usually is determined by what the surgeon and anesthesiologist are comfortable with rather than any scientifically mandated requirement.
Surgeons often prefer general anesthesia because it eliminates subjective concerns of the patient. The surgeon is free to do whatever they need to during surgery because patient...
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Anesthesia used will vary from Patient to Patient and Surgeon to Surgeon
Hello Jaqui,
Your question is a very good one and one that I discuss with my patients every day.
General anesthesia, IV sedation and local anesthesia all have their advantages and disadvantages. They are all options worth considering and ultimately the the method used is arrived at by weighing all the important factors in play : safety first, the type of facelift being done, the Patient's medical health and history, the Surgeon's comfort level, the Patient's comfort level, the number and...
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IV Sedation with Local Anesthesia - Safe Option for Most Facelift Patients
Anesthesia Choices for Facial Aesthetic Surgery such as a mini-lift depend on several factors.
First off, I do not think the type of anesthesia influences either the recovery time or the amount of bruising. Although it is possible to do all of these procedures under local anesthesia - your comfort is the most important concern. You will have to lie still for hours and you will be aware in many cases of injections. For procedures more than 3-4 hours I would recommend IV...
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Anesthesia Options
The level of anesthesia should be appropriate to the extent of the surgery, the medical conditions of the patient, and approach to the surgery taken. Ensure that the surgeon that you are going to understands your preferences, and is making anesthesia decisions based on your interests.
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Anesthesia Choice For A Facelift
There are several good options for anesthesia during a facelift depending on what a patient desires.
Local anesthesia with a minimal sedation (mostly awake) can be a good option for some patients who want to avoid general anesthesia. Seek consultation with a surgeon who can perform this.
IV sedation is another good option. Here an experienced anesthesiologist is very important.
General anesthesia is also a good option, in particular for patients who...
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IV sedation for Facelift Works Great
IV sedation can be used quite successfully in patients undergoing surgical facial rejuvenation procedures. We use a combination of propofol, ketamine and versed along with a BIS monitor that allows my anesthetist to give the patient just enough anesthesia that they require without giving too much. Deep IV sedation requires a well trained and experienced anesthetist who is skilled with the technique. It is more work for the anesthesia provider, but can result in a quicker recovery from...
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Anesthesia for Facelift
In our experience, I.V. sedation is a fine anesthesia option for facial aesthetic surgery. Personally, I avoid general anesthesia for facelift surgery. Waking up and restlessness can be avoided when the anesthesia service is provided by an experienced anesthesiologist.
At the end, listen to your intuition.
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