What do patients say it feels like going under general anesthesia? Is it like no time has passed? I'm nervous!

Hi Betterme85, Thank you for your question about what does general anesthesia feel like.  I will answer this as a medical doctor who has been under general anesthesia many times for surgical procedures.  Before your tummy tuck, you might be a little anxious.  Until all the medical legal documents are signed, you will not be given anything to relax.  However, once the medical legal documents are signed and the IV is been placed, your anesthesiologist can give you medication through the IV.  The medication is an anxiolytic and will help you to relax. Typically, the medication is versed.  Versed is an anxiolytic and helps you to relax.  Versed also causes retrograde amnesia which means forget about the short term past (about 30-60 minutes). Versed makes you feel like "OK Doc. Go ahead, you can do anything. I feel nothing!".  Then, you are usually brought to the operating room. The OR may be cold. The OR is purposely cold to kill bacteria. You will be given a warming blanket.  Then, you will be given medication to undergo general anesthesia. The medication is a paralytic and temporarily paralyses your muscles.  This medication is very fast acting. The medication will put you to sleep within seconds.  Once completely asleep, a breathing tube is placed. You will also be given medication to relieve any pain.  You can remain under safe general anesthesia for hours and hours. When your procedure is completed ( a tummy tuck in your case), you will be given a reversal agent is given through the IV. This reversal agent reverses the effects of the paralytic medication.  Therefore, it unparalyses you.   You gently wake up and the breathing tube was removed. For most people it feels like only 30 to 60 seconds have past.  Some of my patients after a 6 to 8 hour body list will wake up and ask "when can we start the procedure?"  For them, time has completely passed and their 8 hour procedure didn't seem like anything.  Once you wake up, you may feel cold. This is due to the muscle relaxant wearing off.  For the most part, if you are in good medical health, undergoing general anesthesia under the supervision of an anesthesiologist is very safe.  Thank you for your great questions about what general anesthesia feels like. I hope I answered your question about what it feels like to undergo general anesthesia. Good luck with your tummy tuck. If you have any more questions regarding general anesthesia, tummy tuck ,abdominoplasty, body lifts, or plastic surgery, please contact my office. Sincerely Dr. Katzen.

It is very normal to have anxiety about having anesthesia - and a major surgery like a tummy tuck!  Many people wake up feeling like they just had the best nap ever, sometimes with good dreams too.  Good luck!Sincerely,Dr. Michelle Spring

Definitely OK for you to be nervous! I am sure you have had medical clearance and your anesthesia will be provided by a board-certified anesthesiologist in an accredited facility.  As long as you have dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's PRIOR to your surgery, you should do well.  Most patients wake up peacefully in the recovery room wondering when their procedure is going to begin!  Good luck, Dr. Greenwald