Liposuction Q&A

71%

WORTH IT RATING

494 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Liposuction Cost: $5,150

Learn about Liposuction

2,770 people and 782 doctors are talking about Liposuction

Get Free Email Updates

Versed Anesthesia for Liposuction

asked 2 years ago by havingliposoon in Pasadena, CA
Latest answer by Brent Moelleken, MD
Question viewed 638 times
Tags: anesthesia

Hello, I'm having lipo done soon and have questions about the Versed anesthesia that will be given. I hear this is a common sedative, though mostly given for relaxation and it's amnesia effect. Why would I need to forget about my surgery or any pain experienced during my procedure? I'm assuming if this is being given, there will be pain. Will I be able to convey this to my doctor during the procedure? If so, why this drug?

15 answers to Versed Anesthesia for Liposuction

Versed is often given to help relax patients prior to liposuction

It is normal to be alittle nervous prior to any surgical procedure and versed helps take away the anxiety or nervousness so you can feel more comfortable and relaxed. Enjoy your liposuction experience.

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

Versed for liposuction

Versed is a good medicine and does tend to make people forget about their surgery, but it is only one of many medicines that will be necessary for you to have a pain free surgical experience. Versed by itself does not diminish pain, so it does not give a complete anesthetic.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Versed is not anesthesia

As was pointed out in other answers, there is a lot of confusion about anesthesia options for liposuction. Not counting regional anesthesia which is rarely used for liposuction, there are two types of anesthesia for liposuction. They are local anesthesia and general anesthesia. The technique for local anesthesia in liposuction is often called "tumescent liposuction" but tumescent is really only the term for the local anesthesia technique. General anesthesia is when the entire... more

Scott L. Replogle, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction and versed

Versed is often employed in the regimen of anesthetic drugs during surgery so that patients are relaxed during the procedure and do not remember the procedure.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Versed for liposuction

Some surgeons prefer to do liposuction with general anesthesia, while others use only tumescent liposuction. There are pros and cons to each. Some cases of lipo involve no pain at all if the local tumescent anesthesia is injected comfortably but every patient has a different pain and anxiety threshold and many doctors don't want you to feel it or have bad memories about it. Speak to your surgeon and if you don't want the Versed remember it's not a necessity but it can make it more pleasant.... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Intravenous sedation a popular option for liposuction anesthesia

There is a lot of confusion about anesthesia options for liposuction. Often the use of tumescent anesthesia, in which the patient is fully awake and the numbing fluid is pumped in to the area to be suctioned, is touted as a safer option than general anesthesia, in which the patient is completely out. However, using large volumes of tumescent has risks, and the discussion should include the option of IV sedation, which may actually be the most common. I find that it make the experience much... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Versed is a fine sedative if you're having a small liposuction

Versed is a fine sidative. It will 'take the edge off'. But if you are having a large area of liposuction, you will be alot more comfortable during the procedure if you have some true anesthetic agents, like IV Propofol. If you are pain free during the procedure, your doctor will be able to do a more thorough job, and you will have a better result.

G. Gregory Gallico III, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction Anesthesia

Every Plastic surgeon tailors hs operation and its required anesthesia to the duration of the cases, its complexity (IE amount of turning required) and the patient's wishes. Many of of medications used in anesthesia act by decreasing anxiety, the awareness and memory of pain (Versed, Valium, propofol,Ketamine etc). If you have local anesthesia with sedation you should be able to communicate with your anesthesiologist or plastic surgeon but , based on the amount of sedation, you may not be... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Most plastic surgeons use light general anesthesia for liposuction.

Hi. In New York City, we do not use Versed as a principal anesthetic for liposuction. Most board certified plastic surgeons use general anesthesia, and the local anesthesia in the tumescent fluid that is injected into the fat.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Local Anesthesia is for Pain, Versed is for Comfort

Versed is commonly used for sedation as it makes it very comfortable fo the patient. Tumescent anesthesia, the local anesthesia is infiltrated for pain control. You are correct that Versed is not for pain, and that is why local anesthetic is also used. Patients on Versed sedation are able to talk and communicate. It is much like having a drink. You will have difficulty remembering the surgery the next day as it does cause amnesia. Most patients like the effect and... more

Keith Denkler, MD
Marin Plastic Surgeon

Versed anesthesia is a form of general anesthesia

You should know that liposuction can be performed under local anesthesia while awake using a method called tumescent liposuction which is the safest form of liposuction. The risk of liposuction (i.e. dying from an anesthesia complication) increases with various forms of general anesthesia ( reported as high as 1 in 5,000 cases in one study but it appears to be more like 1 in 40,000 cases). Versed is an extremely potent ultrashort acting sedative. Other popular drugs for this purpose include... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Versed for surgery

Versed is not an anesthetic. It is a sedative much like Valium, and it is given through the vein. It causes you to not be anxious, and it causes amnesia while it is working. It is not a truth serum, and it will not interfere with your ability to communicate discomfort to your doctor. You should be monitored during the administration of this drug however.

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Versed anesthesia for liposuction

You are having a combination of Versed + tumescent liposuction fluids. This is a very common form of sedation though very light for any liposuction. Other alternatives are face mask nitrous gas or LMA anesthesia to even general anesthesia. These are things you should be aware of by your surgeon prior to having any operation. It is called 'INFORMED CONSENT'. Best of luck from MIAMI

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Versed and IV sedation

This is a great medication with a high safety profile when properly used. Versed is a benzodiazepam medication that is not only an amnestic but also potentiates the effect of narcotic analgesics as well being an anxiolytic and making the overall experience more pleasant.