Can I choose to go under local anesthesia for a Rhinoplasty if I'm planning to get my tip and bridge narrowed?

It is possible to have a rhinoplasty under a general or local anaesthetic. and there will be surgeon and patient preferences for each.One of the fundamentals though of all surgery is going to be patient safety and some surgeons will feel that for some procedures the patient will be safer under a general anaesthetic.  This applies to rhinoplasty as for any procedure.  You need to discuss the options with your surgeon and decide the best way forward for both of you- remembering your safety is key to a successful resultAll the bestJeremy Hunt. 

I would not recommend local anesthesia (even with oral sedation) if you require bridge narrowing. That portion of the procedure should not be painful but osteotomies create sounds and vibrations that can make people anxious. In most cases, IV sedation or general anesthesia make for a safe and much more comfortable rhinoplasty experience. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

   I would only perform these maneuvers under general anesthesia as pain and movement may affect results.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

I would not recommend using local anesthesia. If you were just going to modify thetip of the nose, then it would be feasible. However, surgical cosmetic improvement of the bridge can be complicated. The extent of the surgery may involve quite a deal of pain. The surgeon would have to be concerned about your level of pain and also concentrate on the surgery.

In our practice, we perform all rhinoplasty procedures under general anesthesia, not local anesthesia for patient safety and comfort. We used board certified physician anesthesiologists to place the patient under anesthesia. It's very important to have a controlled airway during the procedure so that blood does not trickle down the back of your throat/lungs. Trying to perform a rhinoplasty under local anesthesia, especially with osteotomies you will have conscious awareness of yourr nasal bones being broken and will have a very unpleasant experience. Please see the link below for many examples of closed rhinoplasty performed under general anesthesia