Local vs general anesthesia in breast fat transfer surgery? Blood thinners after surgery for blood clot risk reduction?

Question

Of the doctors here who perform breast fat transfer surgery, do you use local or general anesthesia? I have read that the risk of death and complications during surgery are greatly reduced if using local anesthesia. What is your stance on this? Do you use blood thinners after surgery for blood clot risk reduction? I have a family history of blood clots, but have none myself.

Justin Yovino, MD, FACS · Answer

i perform fat tranasfer to the breasts under local anesthesia with light sedation. It's a specialized technique that most surgeons don't offer. It's a lot safer and the the recovery is easier. There's no need for blood thinners under local anesthesia.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Many physicians will do this to save money on anesthesia, but in many cases, you will need to harvest at least 600 cc of pure fat to perform the procedure.  The liposuction of this amount of fat may be 3 liters of lipoaspirate, and most patients cannot tolerate this with just local anesthesia.  Also, the injection of the fat can be painful as well.You will have to be cleared for surgery by your hematologist if you have a family history of blood clots. Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Peter D. Geldner, MD · Answer

As in most situations, the details matter. Injections of fat into he breasts can be performed with local anesthesia with some sedation. General anesthesia (which can include total intravenous anesthesia TIVA) is not necessary, but might be more comfortable. Though the risk of DVT is lower for sedation alone than general anesthesia, those risks are low and the specific risk is patient specific. The real question is where you want the fat to be removed for transfer. If the doner site is on the back side (flanks, back, posterior thighs), I would suggest general anesthesia to protect your airway. If it's from your abdomen, sedation would be adequate. Remember that despite what some will tell you, liposuction is at best uncomfortable, at worst, very painful. Talk to a board certified plastic surgeon, or several. You need to learn your best options and come up with a solution that meets your needs.

Ryan Hoffman, MD · Answer

Local or gen anesthesia can be used to do fat transfer to the breast. Usually, gen anesthesia is the preferred method.  The risks of death and complications in healthy patients undergoing elective surgery is very low. If there is a family history of clots, patients are sent to a hematologist prior to surgery. You can discuss these issues with a board certified plastic surgery.

John L. Burns Jr., MD · Answer

Anesthesia done by a board certified aneshesiologist in a properly certified surgical center or hosptal setting is the preferred method for fat transfer breast augmentation.

Local vs general anesthesia in breast fat transfer surgery? Blood thinners after surgery for blood clot risk reduction?

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Local vs general anesthesia in breast fat transfer surgery? Blood thinners after surgery for blood clot risk reduction?

Answers (9)

Answer: Local vs general anesthesia for fat transfer

Answer: Local vs general anesthesia for fat transfer

Answer: Plastic Surgery Anesthesia

Answer: Plastic Surgery Anesthesia

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Fat Transfer

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.