Hello and thank you for your excellent question. I think you are asking why can't traditional liposuction be performed when you are awake, like it is usually advertised with laser liposuction? The best answer is that either traditional liposuction, and or a BBL can also be performed under oral sedation, just like laser liposuction. The main concern is that "awake" procedures are limited with regard to how much volume and surgery you can perform. For instance, during a regular BBL, we may transfer 3 liters or fat or more to your buttock. Under "awake" liposuction, once we get beyond 0.5 - 1 liter, it is too uncomfortable to inject more fat. Because of this, we recommend that you go to sleep for the procedure. With regards to general anesthesia versus a spinal anesthetic, believe it or not, but a spinal anesthetic is MUCH more risky than a general anesthetic! At North Texas Plastic Surgery, we are open to all options... we will help you select whichever type of sedation is best for your particular procedure. We also have all of our cases overseen by a board-certified anesthesiologist, to make sure that you are safe. Good luck!
