Can a breast lift/breast implant surgery be done without being put to sleep?

It does not sound like a good idea to have such extensive surgery while being awake.  The fear of not waking up is not reasonable when compared to the experience of having a breast lift/implant while awake.

Thank you for your question.There are several different choices for breast augmentation anesthesia. In my practice, I perform an augment and breast lift under general anesthesia, as I believe this provides a safe, controlled environment for the surgery. Also, the anesthesiologists are board certified, and I perform the surgery in an accredited hospital. My patients are very happy with general anesthesia.Regards,Manish Champaneria, MD

There are different types of anesthesia which are used for breast surgery. A lot of plastic surgeons prefer general anesthesia. As a board certified plastic surgeon, I prefer to use twilight sedation (intravenous sedation) and tumescent solution. The anesthesia is provided by a certified anesthetist and you are monitored just like at the hospital. After surgery, my patients are ready and able to be discharged home within 15 minutes after. After general anesthesia, you need to be recovered for1-2 hours after surgery. You might have a sore throat for a couple of days from the breathing tube that was placed in the wind pipe during your surgery. All types of anesthesia are safe if administered by an anesthesiologist or anesthetist. Good luck.

For my patients, I perform all types of breast surgery under general anesthesia.  I feel that the outcomes I can provide are better when my patients are comfortable.  General anesthesia is safe in healthy patients if provided in an appropriate setting with well trained providers.  Make sure your friend consults with a board certified plastic surgeon. 

It is absolutely possible to have a breast aug/lift under local anesthesia.  That being said your friend may have a hard time finding a well trained, experienced PS who is willing to do this procedure under local. There is a fine art to performing safe and effective local anesthesia. Because general anesthesia is such a safe and effective method in the vast majority of cases, and excellent outcomes are overwhelmingly the rule, many of us rarely perform this procedure under local. Your friend's fear is very common and not unreasonable. We all take calculated risks everyday (for example getting on the expressway everyday has risk...but we make a decision everyday whether it is worth the risk and act accordingly).  I would encourage your friend to ask questions at her augmentation consultation. Millions of women have found the very small risk to be well worth it!!

First of all thank you for the question.  It takes about four and a half hours to do a breast lift with augmentation.  This is an extensive surgery which is best performed under general anesthesia to keep you comfortable and pain free.  If you are a healthy individual, general anesthesia is safe.  I recommend consulting with a Board Certified Plastic surgeon that uses a Board Certified Anesthesiologist. Best of Luck.

Thank you for your post on behalf of your friend. In my practice, I do all breast augmentation and lifting procedures under general anesthesia,  provided by board-certified anesthesiologists, in a fully accredited surgery  center.  I find that this type of anesthesia provides for a safe  and comfortable experience for the patients as well as an immobile and comfortable patient for me to take care of.  Although I cannot provide your friend with specific medical advice, I can say that generally speaking, general anesthesia provided by a board-certified anesthesiologists is very safe these days. Make sure that you have chosen your plastic surgeon carefully ( board-certified by the American Board of plastic surgery and with significant demonstrable experience achieving the types of outcomes you will be pleased with), and that he/she works with an experienced anesthesia provider in a fully accredited surgery facility.   Be careful that your friend does not select her plastic surgeon based on the fact that the procedure is offered under local anesthesia…  I hope this, and the attached link (dedicated to breast augmentation/lifting surgery concerns), helps. Best wishes.