Intense anxiety over breast augmentation, general anesthesia?

Question

I was so ready to schedule a breast augmentation. I’ve thought about it since I was a teenager (27 now) and finally saved enough to pay in full. I thought I was ready to pull the trigger and now I’m talking myself out of it. I have a very intense fear over general anesthesia. I’ve been under anesthesia once before but I don’t think it was general because I didn’t have a breathing tube. The idea of being put under is absolutely terrifying and the worst part to me. How do I handle this?

Finny George, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Anxiety related to surgery and general anesthesia are common. By selecting a reputable, ABPS certified surgeon, AAAA facility and board certified anesthesiologist, you can control some aspects of your care which may alleviate some anxiety. Beyond this, navigating fear may be something to discuss with a professional who deals with this type of concern from patients regularly.

Jonathan Landon, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question! I'm sorry to hear about your fears with general anesthesia and how it's preventing you from moving forward with having your surgery. Unfortunately, there is no magic answer to getting you comfortable with the idea of being put under. The best way to go about it would be to find a surgeon who you are totally comfortable with, and perhaps speaking with your anesthesiologist so they can walk you through exactly what the process will be like. We always lean on the side of having more information is better than not having enough.

William Lao, MD · Answer

Not only you, but many of my patients also fear the idea of going under, but in any accredited facility with a board certified plastic surgeon, typically a board certified anesthesiologist will be hired to perform anesthesia for you. It is a very safe and relatively short duration type of surgery, if you do have any history of nausea/vomiting etc, I would suggest you mention it to the anesthesiologist prior to the procedure so they can tailor medication to ease with those problems prior to waking you up.

Luis A. Mejia, MD · Answer

Dear Haley_0028920, thanks for sharing your concerns, this procedure can be perfectly performed without general anesthesia, so you dont need to be worried about, just make sure to discuss this with your surgeon or his/her team before surgery. Make sure you go on consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Hope this helps and best of lucks. Dr. Luis Mejia.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Haley_0028920,breast augmentation can be done without general anesthesia. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Aaron Gilson, DO · Answer

It's completely natural to have concerns about undergoing general anesthesia, especially for a procedure like breast augmentation that you've been considering for a long time. Here are a few steps you can take to address your anxiety:

Educate Yourself: Learn more about general anesthesia from reliable medical sources or directly from an anesthesiologist. Understanding the processes, safety protocols, and how anesthesia risks are minimized can help reduce fear.

Discuss Your Concerns: Talk openly with your plastic surgeon and the anesthesiologist about your fears. They can provide detailed explanations about what to expect and how they ensure safety during the procedure.

Consider Counseling: If your anxiety feels overwhelming, consider speaking with a counselor or therapist who specializes in helping patients manage medical procedure-related fears.

Ask About Alternatives: Depending on the specifics of your case, there might be alternatives to general anesthesia that could still allow for a comfortable procedure.

Remember, it's important to feel fully comfortable and informed before proceeding with any surgery. Your health and peace of mind should always come first.

Brian K. Reedy, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question! Anesthesia can be scary. A lot of surgeons will do what is called an LMA for breast augmentation so you aren't fully intubated. That aside, anesthesia is extremely safe if you have no pre-existing conditions and it's done by someone who is well-versed. It's actually safer than flying in an airplane. Good luck!

Ram Kalus, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question, Haley. Anxiety surrounding anesthesia is very common so you are not alone with your concern. First off, you may not necessarily require being intubated for your breast augmentation. A skilled anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist working in close coordination with your plastic surgeon can determine which anesthetic technique is most suitable to achieve a beautiful and successful breast augmentation for you. There are four options only one of which includes intubation. The others include LMA (laryngeal mask airway), TIVA (total intravenous anesthesia), and local anesthesia with oral premedication.

All of that said, statistically, your risk of a serious complication or death from general anesthesia is far lower than that of getting into your car and driving to the grocery store or to work. So your fear and anxiety, while understandable, may be disproportionate to the actual danger, and therefore speaking with a professional counselor, psychologist, therapist) may be helpful to overcome the fear and anxiety which currently overwhelms you.

Do your research, and see if you can get comfortable enough to fulfill your wishes. The good news is that in my practice (and according to research) women who undergo breast augmentation are amongst the happiest plastic surgery patients overall, but you should only proceed if you are confident enough to do so. High stress and anxiety are not conducive to a smooth and uncomplicated outcome, and in my practice we do all we can to allay fears and concerns. Best of luck to you.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Your fear of general anesthesia is not uncommon.  Because the surgical time of a breast augmentation is relatively short, many anesthesiologists may not intubate you but rather use an LMA.  Anesthesia of today is vastly different than years ago and is very safe if you are in general good health.  I encourage you to speak with your surgeon about your concerns.  Ensure you are seeing a board certified plastic surgeon and having your surgery performed in an accredited surgery center or hospital.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

If you are that anxious about having elective surgery, then perhaps elective cosmetic surgery is not best for you. The procedure can be done under local anesthesia with IV sedation if your surgeon is willing. I do not recommend trying to do it without sedation of some sort. Once you truly decide that you want implants, the idea of anesthesia will not stop you.