Alternative to General Anesthesia for Breast Augmentation?

Thank you for your question. Both types of anesthesia can provide a safe and comfortable platform for breast augmentation surgery. It is more important that you feel comfortable with your surgeon and the surgical plan as this is ultimately what you will be remembering after the procedure.

It’s possible to perform breast augmentation utilizing
either IV sedation or general anesthesia.Each approach has advantages and disadvantages.Both approaches have advocates. It’s important
that the anesthesia be administered by a board certified anesthesiologist
regardless of the type of anesthesia utilized.This is an important point because IV sedation is occasionally
administered without an anesthesiologist as a cost cutting maneuver.When this happens, your surgeon is also your
anesthesiologist.I
generally prefer general anesthesia for a variety of reasons.I typically place implants beneath the muscle
and feel that general anesthesia makes the experience more comfortable for my
patients.With newer anesthesia agents,
patients tend to recover quickly with less nausea and few side effects. It’s
important to discuss these issues with your plastic surgeon before proceeding
with surgery.It’s important that both
of you are comfortable with the choice of anesthetic.In some cases, it might also be helpful to
meet with the anesthesiologist before proceeding.

Thank you for the question.Every surgeon will have his/her preference. I prefer the use of general anesthesia provided by a board-certified anesthesiologist.  I have found that the  use of general anesthesia is safe, comfortable for the patient, and predictably maintains a patient in a good position (without movement)  during the procedure. I think the latter is important as we are trying to achieve as much symmetry is possible.Most important will be your choice of surgeon. Physicians who are board certified in plastic surgery hold a certification with the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). This certification proves that the surgeon has graduated from an accredited medical school, has completed a residency of at least five years, has three years of experience in general surgery, is actively practicing plastic surgery for at least two years, and has passed mandatory comprehensive and written examinations. These surgeons are referred to as diplomats of the ABPS and have fulfilled the aforementioned requirements. I would suggest that you select your plastic surgery carefully; NOT based mainly on the type of anesthesia that he/she will perform their procedure under. Then, communicate your goals carefully as well. During this consultation process, your other questions in regards to type of implants, incisions, size concerns… will be addressed. Best wishes.