Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.

see all q&a
Posted underFacelift q&a

Anesthesia Used During a Facelift?

Oct 28, 2008

My doctor said he could perform my facelift under local anesthetic and just give me some sedation. I am 42, would general anesthesia be safe for me? I don’t know what is worse – the general anesthesia, or not being fully knocked out.

Answers (118)

From board-certified doctors and trusted medical professionals
Dr. Brent Moelleken, MD
Brent Moelleken, MD profile photo
Dr. Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
4.9 | 298 Reviews
Answered on Dec 15, 2015
Answer
4 people found this helpful
Dr. Johnny Franco, MD, FACS
Johnny Franco, MD, FACS profile photo
Dr. Johnny Franco, MD, FACS
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.8 | 469 Reviews
Answered on Aug 19, 2016
Answer
🔗 Link
1 person found this helpful
Dr. Lucie Capek, MD
Lucie Capek, MD profile photo
Dr. Lucie Capek, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.6 | 77 Reviews
Answered on Nov 19, 2020
Answer
Dr. Peter Lee, MD, FACS
Peter Lee, MD, FACS profile photo
Dr. Peter Lee, MD, FACS
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.5 | 126 Reviews
Answered on Jul 16, 2019
Answer
Dr. Alan B. Brackup, MD, FACS
Alan B. Brackup, MD, FACS profile photo
Dr. Alan B. Brackup, MD, FACS
Oculoplastic Surgeon, Board Certified in Ophthalmology
4.9 | 109 Reviews
Answered on Mar 31, 2019
Answer
🔗 Link
Dr. Greg Chernoff, MD
Greg Chernoff, MD profile photo
Dr. Greg Chernoff, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.6 | 46 Reviews
Answered on Jun 13, 2021
Answer
🔗 Link
Dr. Matthew Richardson, MD
Matthew Richardson, MD profile photo
Dr. Matthew Richardson, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 | 176 Reviews
Answered on Dec 10, 2018
Answer
🔗 Link
Dr. Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast)
Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) profile photo
Dr. Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast)
Specialist Registered Plastic Surgeon
4.9 | 555 Reviews
Answered on Jul 27, 2016
Answer
🔗 Link
Dr. Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS
Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS profile photo
Dr. Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.9 | 143 Reviews
Answered on May 19, 2016
Answer
🔗 Link
Dr. Timothy Treece, MD, FACS
Timothy Treece, MD, FACS profile photo
Dr. Timothy Treece, MD, FACS
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.6 | 67 Reviews
Answered on Sep 11, 2015
Answer
🔗 Link
Dr. Raymond E. Lee, MD
Raymond E. Lee, MD profile photo
Dr. Raymond E. Lee, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
5.0 | 214 Reviews
Answered on Jul 15, 2015
Answer
🔗 Link

More Facelift Questions

Top Answer
User Avatar
Ankit Desai, MD

As a board certified plastic surgeon, it continues to astonish me on how different specialties continue to use gimmicks and marketing tricks to confuse patients regarding their true qualifications.  Board Certified Plastic Surgeons complete 2-3 years of Plastic Surgery training. Many...

+6 answers
Top Answer
User Avatar
Brent Moelleken, MD

20 years ago, this question would not have come up. It would have been considered inappropriate by most surgeons for a 40-year old to consider a facelift except perhaps in acne patients with skin laxity. Now, especially for patients in the entertainment industry who make their living on air,...

+137 answers
Top Answer
User Avatar
Kyle Kimura, MD

Great question! Most surgeons will quote that a facelift "lasts" for about 10-15 years. I think this can be a bit confusing for patients as it doesn't immediately revert to how things were before surgery at the 10-15 year mark. I like to think of this more in terms of aging as a car going down a...

+216 answers
Top Answer
User Avatar
Frank P. Fechner, MD

Honestly, I had to smile when I read your question. There is no facelift procedure that should rely on only one stitch. It sounds to me like a marketing pitch - not a solid facelift procedure that I would recommend. Excellence in facelift surgery does not come with speed. Rather, it relies on t...

+74 answers
Top Answer
User Avatar
Richard Baxter, MD

There are a number of nonsurgical technologies such as Ulthera that have proven clinical results, but micro-current devices have not been proven to work as well. None of these devices is a substitute for a surgical facelift, especially after weight loss.

+6 answers
Top Answer
User Avatar
Miguel Delgado, MD

I would try not to focus on the amount of sutures.  The amount of sutures will vary from surgeon to surgeon. The important focus is the incision sites and length. Every surgeon has his/her own technique. Look at their before and after galleries to gain perspective on the results.

+39 answers
See all Facelift Q&A
See more Facelift Q&As
See all Q&As
SEE FACELIFT GUIDE →