Can a back lift and bra strap be done under local anesthesia?

Thank you for your question! A back lift is a large procedure (similar to a tummy tuck), and it is commonly performed along with liposuction of the back. To make a long story short, it is not recommended to perform this procedure under local anesthesia due to safety concerns. In order to perform these procedures, patients need a certain amount of lidocaine to be administered. For awake patients, more lidocaine is needed since the patient is awake and we want to keep them comfortable. All patients have a maximum dose of lidocaine based on their weight that cannot be exceeded for safety reasons. For these procedures, a patient would most likely need more than this maximum dose to stay comfortable. If a patient is in too much pain, the procedure will have to be aborted. It is safest (and most comfortable for the surgeon and patient) to perform large procedures like these under general anesthesia. Please be sure to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.

A back lift and bra strap lift can be done under local anesthesia, but I do not recommend it. The back lift and bra lift require lots of pulling, tugging, and dissecting. Your body can only handle so much local anesthesia before it reaches levels of toxicity. Under general anesthesia, the surgeon can give optimal results and not worry about hurting you or poisoning you with too much local anesthetic. I perform all of my back and bra strap lifts under general anesthesia. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

The procedures that interest you are best done under general anesthesia. This is for you comfort, safety, and to give your surgeon the opportunity to maximize your results. If you have concerns about general anesthesia I encourage you to discuss them with your surgeon.