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?

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.

Intense anxiety over breast augmentation, general anesthesia?

Answers (10)

Answer: BA candidate

Answer: BA candidate

Answer: completely natural

Answer: completely natural

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Everything you need to know about Breast Augmentation

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Intense anxiety over breast augmentation, general anesthesia?

Answers (10)

Answer: BA candidate

Answer: BA candidate

Answer: completely natural

Answer: completely natural

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Augmentation

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