Does being lifted during anesthesia bring additional risk?

Call patients who have general anesthesia need to be positioned while they are under anesthesia.
Patients usually position themselves onto the operating table and are then put to sleep. for some procedures patients need to be repositioned in order for the surgeon to get appropriate access.
Moving the patient under general anesthesia is tricky and has done very carefully. it typically requires six people and operating room staff are usually well equipped and experienced in doing this.
It often makes anesthesiologists a bit nervous but it is part of doing surgery.
At the end of the procedure patients are still under anesthesia and generally unconscious and need to be moved onto a gurney to go to the recovery room. this is done routinely and is considered safe.
The most common injury related to positioning during anesthesia is an Ulnar nerve injury which is usually temporary.
Of all the things that can go wrong during surgery being injured due to positioning or being lifted it’s probably not all that high on the list.
It is however a very important thing to discuss if you’re considering cosmetic surgical procedures that are circumferential in nature. For example if you’re having liposuction of your torso which includes the front and back side then you should have a very clear understanding with your surgeon exactly how they’re going to do that procedure and in what positions you’ll be placed during surgery.
The same is true for operations like a tummy tuck or body lift.
Likewise liposuction for lower extremities is best done in certain anatomic positions generally not with people laying on their back.
If you have upcoming surgery and have questions or concerns about any aspect of it then you should talk to your surgeon before the date of surgery.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD