Is it normal to have general anesthesia for Buccal Fat Removal?

Buccal fat removal is a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure that doesn't need to be performed under general anesthesia unless the patient requests it.
In my practice I routinely perform the procedure wide awake under local anesthesia, without pain and without sedation. The procedure takes under 1 hour. Recovery is associated with some days of swelling. Result can start being seen in 3 weeks post surgery.
I only perform buccal fat removal under anesthesia when other cosmetic procedures like facelift, neck lift, fat transfer to the face, chin implant, etc are performed at the same time and the patient requests general anesthesia. 

Hello,     Thank you for your straightforward and useful question. When undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery there are various options for anesthesia. The Surgeons preference is a major influence to the anesthesia you will receive when choosing to have that particular Surgeon perform your case.   However, in my plastic surgery practice, I offer my patients a choice for certain procedures that can be comfortably, carefully, properly and effectively performed using local anesthesia. One particular surgery that can be comfortably, effectively and safely performed using local anesthesia is buccal fat removal. This surgery can be performed using local anesthetic alone, such as going to the dentist for cavity treatment, or more commonly, in addition to the injection of the local anesthetic, would be to provide the patient with some anxiety relieving medication in addition to the local anesthesia. For buccal fat removal, unless my patient specifically requested general anesthesia, I would recommend performing this procedure using local anesthesia. Besides significant cost reduction for the patient, patient recovery is faster when recovering from local anesthesia versus general anesthesia.   Also, while general anesthesia is a safe form of anesthesia, local anesthesia is even safer.  Regarding cost savings for my patient. Let’s say I charge $2750 for buccal fat removal. If performed under general anesthesia, the cost would rise to about $4250. Best regards,Dr  Mitchell

Hi, thanks for your question. Buccal fat removal can either be performed under local or general anesthesia, and neither would affect the healing time. Each surgeon has his or her own protocols when it comes to the surgeries they perform, and they may choose one type of anesthesia over another depending on their patient's medical history and individual needs.  Local anesthesia is generally less invasive than general anesthesia, but in a board certified practice with experienced anesthesiologists general anesthesia is a safe and normal way to go as well. If you have concerns about being put under general anesthesia because of medical or other reasons, don't hesitate to speak to your surgeon, and don't be shy about getting a second or third opinion as well.