Liposuction while awake? Completely freaking out because I'm afraid I'm going to feel pain.

Question

I'm having liposuction done next week and the surgeon said he will be performing the surgery while I am awake. I'm completely freaking out now because I'm afaird I'm going to feel pain or freak out during the surgery. Is it painful having in done while awake?

David Hansen, MD · Answer

Liposuction should ONLY be done under tumescent local with the smaller cannulas for best results. It is not painful and is much safer than gen. anesthesia. You may want alittle iv sedation for relaxation and enjoy the new you. Don't worry.

Julio C. Pena Encarnacion, MD · Answer

What your doctor meant by that is they will be performing the procedure while you are on local anesthesia instead of general anesthesia. General anesthesia means you will be fully unconscious as long as the anesthetic is on effect. Local anesthesia means only a part of your body will be impervious to pain as the anesthetic will pretty much numb that area and you won't be able to feel absolutely anything in that area so long the anesthetic is on effect.Local anesthesia for a liposuction is prescribed when either the area that is going to be treated is small, or because there are significant risks by using general anesthesia. But pretty much all liposuction procedures can be performed on local anesthesia provided the procedure is going to be performed in a short time.And as a side note. If your surgeon wasn't using anesthesia at all, I'd say you would pretty much fall unconscious by the pain alone. So don't worry, you surgeon knows what they are doing.

Susan Buenaventura, MD, FACS · Answer

liposuction is surgery and you should go into surgery feeling calm and confident in your care.   You should have the option for anesthesia or sedation and should be properly monitored during the surgery.  Make sure you seek care with a board certified plastic surgeon

Liposuction while awake? Completely freaking out because I'm afraid I'm going to feel pain.

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Liposuction while awake? Completely freaking out because I'm afraid I'm going to feel pain.

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Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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