Is IV Sedation Safer Than General Anesthesia During Smart Lipo MPX?

I am considering Smart Lipo MPX on my lower abs. I was reluctant to have Traditional Liposuction previously because I didn't want to have General Anesthesia.

Everything I've read on Smart Lipo showed that it's generally done under local anesthesia so I was surprised when the Plastic Surgery Department told me that they use IV sedation (It was described to me as the same sedation that is used for Gastric procedures).

The procedure will be done at a well known teaching hospital. Is IV sedation safer than General Anesthesia? Why would he insist on sedation when most doctors are using local?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by jjjules in Winston-salem, nc

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Local not safer than general anesthesia for Smart Lipo MPX

You are incorrect, MOST EXTENSIVE Smart Lipos are done under IV sedation and/or light general anesthesia. This allows the operating surgeon to deliver more joules of energy to obtain a better result. Also the length of surgery time becomes shorter while under. Also, local only can cause major complications from overdosing on lidocaine, just like here in Florida. There was a death of a 30 year old mother of three from lidocaine toxicity during liposuction. My point is be careful out there.... more

Sedation, local or general anesthesia for smart liposuction

Both smart liposuction and traditional liposuction can be done under either local or general anesthesia. Most local procedures also have the patient take medications that are sedatives, however, according to the patient's preference. Regarding safety, local with sedation or just local is not necessarily safer than general anesthesia. It may be necessary to use much more local anesthesia with the tumescent fluid than with general anesthesia, and this has cased some problems and even... more

General Anesthesia is never needed for liposuction

General anesthesia is never needed for liposuction. General anesthesia adds unneeded risk to liposuction. GA (general anesthesia) increases the risk of post op nausea and vomiting. You don't want to be throwing up for 24 hours after your Lipo. Most extensive lipos require either placing the patient face down on their stomach and/or turning the patient from side to side. There is more risk when patients are moved when they are asleep under GA than when they are awake. Tumescent anesthesia... more

IV sedation versus general anesthesia

Which is safer? I think that general anesthesia may be safer in the sense that the airway is protected during the procedure. But there will be people that say IV sedation is better. A good anesthesiologist can do both.