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General Anesthesia Vs. Iv Sedation for Breast Augmentation?

asked 8 months ago by Lynla in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Latest answer by Jonathan J Staiano, MBBS
Question viewed 645 times
Tags: female, anesthesia, sedation

Im getting Breast implants and dont know what time of anesthesia will be better to use for this procedure. If it helps im a small girl weight 95 to 100 pounds height 5'2 and really healthy I talk to 2 doctor and 1 uses general anesthesia and 1 uses iv sedation Im scare to go for one of the doctors and be the wrong decision. I asked each doctor about every anesthesia and all of then bring down what they are not using in a bad way meaning complications. So i cant make up my mind. Please help!

22 answers to General Anesthesia Vs. Iv Sedation for Breast Augmentation?

***IV Sedation is clearly "The Way to Go" for Breast Augmentation

There are many comments from Board Certified Plastic Surgeons regarding your question as well as a similar question asked previously on RealSelf.com, "Alternative to General Anesthesia for Breast Augmentation?" I have performed many hundreds of under-the-muscle breast augmentations over many years under IV sedation, and for me this technique has many benefits: Dramatic reduction in postoperative pain and recovery. The anesthesiologists and CRNAs I have worked with over... more

Nick Slenkovich, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

General or local anaesthesia for breast augmentation?

You should ask yourself if you would prefer general or local anaesthesia. As you can see from the other responses, both are acceptable ways of doing the procedure. As long as the surgeon is comfortable using that type of anaesthesia, I am sure you will be fine. If you do not have a strong preference, then go with the surgeon who you preferred as this is more important than distinguishing between the anaesthetic. Good luck. Jonathan Staiano

Jonathan J Staiano, MBBS
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

General Anesthesia Vs. Iv Sedation for Breast Augmentation?

GREAT question! I use LAM + IV Sedation + Local. But it is a surgeons preference, as you can read from all the answers posted. There is no wrong way.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

General anesthesia recommended for breast augmentation

You obtained 2 different answers in consultation and surely can see a dichotomy in views of other plastic surgeons who have responded to your question. Both can clearly be performed for a breast augmentation. However, for several reasons, I strongly feel that general anesthesia is a better way to go though with some minor caveats. With this approach, you are totally asleep, you don't feel anything during the procedure which can progress without concerns of patient discomfort which does... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Breast augmentation under local anesthesia

Breast augmentation under local with IV sedation or general anesthesia, can both be safe. I think those that cannot perform the procedure under general anesthesia because they do not have hospital privileges inflate the risks of general anesthesia, which is very safe. Local anesthesia can have risks, for example I have seen punctured lungs occur when local injections were being done for a breast augmentation. I prefer general anesthesia as I feel it is safe and very comfortable for the... more

Julio Garcia, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Patient Should Choose Between General And IV Sedation

Individual patients should choose the type of anesthesia with which they are most comfortable. I have used both types and feel both are safe if given by appropriate practioners. You should have either type of anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist or a CRNA with a BC anesthesiologist in attendance. Be wary of a plastic surgeon who assumes responsibility for both the operation and the anesthesia.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation and type of anesthesia

I was trained and is always done my augmentations under general anesthesia. The reason why is because when you use general anesthesia the patient is intubated and the airway is controlled. There is less movement of the patient so I can do a more controlled surgery. Augmentations are relatively quick surgeries so the risk of general anesthesia are very low. And also the shorter the time of the surgery the faster the recovery is after extubation.

Wendell Perry, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

General or sedation for breast augmentation

You will find that both are good and safe for breast augmentation. We happen to use sedation, though there is not a right or wrong answer. A better question to ask might be who will be providing the service, and where will your surgery be performed. The facility should be accredited and regularly peer reviewed, and the anesthesia provider properly credentialed. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

In breast augmentat5ion, the type of anesthesia used for the procedure is less

Important than who is giving you the Anesthesia. If you are young and healthy you can safely have the procedure done under either local anesthesia with sedation, or general anesthesia. Make sure that there is an Anesthesiologist presnet to supervise your anesthesia, and that you have a frank discussion with him or her regarding the type of anesthesia and the risks and benefits of each approach. As long as the person in charge is familiar and able to sue either anesthetic... more

Michael H. Rosenberg, MD
White Plains Plastic Surgeon

plasticsurgeryweb.com

Anesthesia Choice

Your risks are fairly equal regarding the options. General may tend to be harder to recover from and there may be more nausea associated with it.

Marc Schneider, MD
Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

Anesthesia options for breast augmentation

There is no single best answer to the optimal choice of anesthesia - IV sedation plus local or general - but one thing that is certain is that wide awake under local only is a bad idea. If the facility is accredited then there should be some options available to discuss for your comfort and safety. Choose the surgeon you are most comfortable with and trust them to make an appropriate anesthesia recommendation.

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

General vs IV sedation for breast augmentation

The answer to your question is that both work equally well. We use general anesthesia when performing endoscopic breast augmentation and IV sedation for all others. I believe that both are equally safe, and would base your decision on which surgeon you feel most comfortable with. I would try to find out which has the better reputation and does the most augmentations.

Robert M. Jensen, MD
Medford Plastic Surgeon

General Anesthesia or IV Sedation for Breast Augmentation

You will find different opinions on this issue, and I am on the side of general anesthesia. IV sedation is understandably attractive because it sounds safer. However, if you are having your breast implants placed under the muscle, it is difficult to get the muscle completely numb and in order to get through it you will need a deep IV sedation. I have asked many anesthesiologists this question, and the constant answer has been that they would feel safer with a general anesthesia because the... more

Joseph Fata, M.D.
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.breastsurgeryindianapolis.com

General anesthesia vs IV sedation

If your are getting your implants placed under the muscle then general anesthesia is the way to go. If they are on top of the muscle you could go either way. Make sure that whoever is administering your anesthesia is an anesthesiologist or an experienced CRNA, not the surgeon performing the procedure!!! Good luck!

Marcel Daniels, MD
Long Beach Plastic Surgeon

Anesthesia for Breast Augmentation

Each surgeon has their own preference as to the way surgery is done as well as what type of anesthesia is used. My advise for you is to do your homework. Make sure your surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has privileges to perform this surgery at an accredited hospital or surgery center. Ask who will be responsible for your anesthesia, If surgery is performed in the office - is it an accredited facility. Choose the surgeon you... more

Albert Dabbah, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Breast surgery and anaesthesia

It is the experience of the doctor that matters. Make sure this is not a "cosmetic" surgeon but a board certified plastic surgeon. any doctor can do the surgery in their own office operating room with IV sedation be careful who you chose

Jed H. Horowitz, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation anesthesia?

Thank you for the question. Every surgeon will have his/her preference. I prefer the use of general anesthesia provided by a board-certified anesthesiologist. I have found that the use of general anesthesia is safe, comfortable for the patient, and predictably maintains a patient in a good position (without movement) during the procedure. I think the latter is important as we are trying to achieve as much symmetry is possible. Equally important is your choice of... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

General anesthesia vs. sedation for breast augmentation.

The choice of anesthesia is based upon the facility, your anesthesiologist, your medical history, and the procedure type. Both are safe, reliable choices. For a short duration procedure such as a breast augmentation, general anesthesia recovery is very quick.

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Anesthesia for cosmetic surgery

I wish it was that easy to say do one type of anesthesia and not the other but it is not. The best anesthesia for a given procedure is dependent on what is being done at surgery, the patient's personal pain and sitting still thresholds and the experience of the surgeon and anesthesia staff. For 2 different people having the same procedure the best anesthesia for each may be quite different. Last year I performed liposuction of the body on a patient who had previous neck surgery for... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

General anesthesia vs I.V. sedation for breast augmentation

Both anesthesia types are safe if done in an accredited surgical facility by an M.D. anesthesiologist or C.R.N.A. You should choose th board certified plastic surgeon you feel most comfortable with. You might want to review their before and after photo albums, ask about complications, how are these handled and does your surgeon have hospital privileges for your surgery. Good luck.

George Marosan, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

www.bellevueplasticsurgeons.com

Answer to RealSelf.com question regarding Anesthesia for breast augmentation

Both iv sedation and general anesthesia are reasonable alternatives for breast augmentation. We have used both in our AAAASF certified OR for several years, but currently use general anesthesia. One of the key issues with any type of anesthesia is how competent and comfortable the anesthesia provider is with the technique used. General anesthesia has benefits that include better protection of the airway and a deeper level of anesthesia. I have not found any... more

Eric T. Emerson, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

www.seplasticsurgery.com

General or IV sedation?

Any type of anesthesia can be safe or unsafe, depending on who is administering it and monitoring you. I would recommend focusing on the qualifications and credentials of the plastic surgeon, the anesthesiologist, and the facility rather than the type of anesthesia, since many surgeries can be safely done under either. And remember, IV sedation can be light or very deep - bordering on general anesthesia but without airway protection. You can always ask to speak to the... more