Are you allowed to have a breast augmentation without general anesthesia?

Hello, thank you for your question. This is possible however it can be very uncomfortable and painful. Even if we inject the area with numbing medications, you would still feel pressure and some pain. If you are in good health and no outstanding co-morbidities, than anesthesia is very safe. The anesthetist is a trained medical doctor that protects your airway while you are put to sleep during surgery. We always ensure that a complete review and exam is completed. Safety is always first when it talks about any elective surgeries.

Girl85257, General anesthesia is very safe nowadays depending on your medical history. The risk of death solely attributed to anesthesia is approximately 1 in 185,000. There is the option of proceeding with local anesthesia with or without light sedation-however the risk of a pneumothorax(collapsed lung) among other things could argue that this approach is more dangerous. I personally would not perform this under local anesthesia as I feel the overall risk are higher with this approach then with what we do almost everyday.

Some surgeons do perform breast augmentation under local anesthesia. However, usually it is performed under general to make the procedure a safer and more comfortable one.

Thanks for your question! I understand this fear, but I can assure you that general anesthesia is very safe in the right hands. As long as appropriate safety measures are taken prior to surgery, you will wake up and do just fine. I think that local would be a mistake. Good luck!

Dear Girl85257,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

While there are people who do the procedure with different types of anesthesia, I work with a Board Certified Anesthesiologist and have the patients under general anesthesia. The procedure does not need to be painful as techniques and nerve blocks can be utilized. Many of my patients are not even taking any narcotics after surgery. Work with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and ask more questions about enhanced recovery after surgery options.

You can have an augmentation under local anesthesia with IV sedation. The medication you will receive will let you sleep, but you will still keep breathing on your own.

I would not recommend having a breast augmentation under local anesthesia. General anesthesia is very safe and will make the surgery go alot quicker and smoother for both you and your surgeon.

The safest and most comfortable way to undergo breast augmentation is under general anesthesia. I encourage you to discuss your concerns with your surgeon and/or anesthetist. General anesthesia today is well controlled with low risk for healthy patients.

Hello and thank you for your questions. As long as you are healthy and have no comorbidities, general anesthesia is safe and will provide the best option for your breast augmentation. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in body contouring and get all your questions answered.

Best wishes!