Facelift Scheduled in March. Is It Normal to Have Alot of Anxiety?I Have a Great Doctor....but the General Anesthesia Scares Me!

Anesthesia techniques are very safe in patients without active, symptomatic cardiovascular or coagulation issues.  I have performed a lot of Facelifts in my practice over the last 11 years and I have never seen a patient who wasn't anxious.  You are supposed to be anxious, but this can be overcome with anxiolytic medications (valium or ativan) in the week or two prior to your procedure.  There has been a lot of infomercial advertising describing "potentially dangerous anesthetics".  The key word is "potentially".  If you aren't a candidate for a Facelift under IV or General Anesthesia for health reasons, I certainly wouldn't recommend a Facelift under local anesthesia as a safer alternative; patients in poor health aren't candidates for elective procedures period.

 

it is normal to be nervous before a facelift or any surgery for that matter. general anesthesia scars many people but it shouldn't. I have always heard the anesthesiologists say that statistically the ride to the surgery center the day of the surgery is more dangerous than undergoing anesthesia (for a healthy patient). Eat a well-balanced diet and get plenty of exercise. That will help. You will get through it. Also, your surgeon might not have discussed this with you, but it is worth mentioning that some patients feel a little down for a month or two after a facelift. It is normal and if it happens be open with your doctor about it. I have never seen it be severe and patients always get through it. But it is a rarely discussed phenomenon that is worth knowing about in advance.

 

Your  anxiety before surgery is perfectly normal and for many patients, the general anesthesia is what concerns many patients.General anesthesia is very safe when administered properly. Another option, however, is to consider having the surgery under I'V sedation, which  many plastic surgeons commonly do.  Ask your surgeon if this is an option for you; it sounds like you may be more comfortable with this option.