IV Sedation Jitters For Upcoming Lipo. Is This Safe?

The safest and most comfortable surgery is under general anesthesia. However that has to be done in a hospital or in an accredited C facility. Liposuction under IV sedation needs a very experienced anesthesiologist and the ability in the facility to convert it to general anesthesia if the situation requires it. Do your due diligence.

As you read everywhere now, the trend is that liposuctions by the expert liposuction surgeons are being done under tumescent local anesthesia by itself or with a little IV sedation which works just fine and makes for a pleasant experience with a huge safety factor and faster recovery and usually better results. Many docs who still do the old fashioned lipo under gen anesthesia with big brutal canulas don't tend to know how to inject tumescent local anesthesia in a painless fashion so they tell their patients it is a painful procedure that way when just the opposite is true. Also under gen anesthesia, you can't stand the patients up or have them sit up or turn in all the positions to see and work on the lipo areas easily and meticulously to get the best results.  Don't be worried. You should have a great experience.  Sincerely,

David Hansen,MD

Intravenous sedation is safe.  It should be administered by a board certified anesthesiologist in an accredited facility.  Depending on how much sedation is given, you may sleep or doze through the procedure.  The type of anesthesia used should depend upon the length and extent of the procedure. For larger liposuctions, general is a reasonable alternative.  If you are anxious about sedation, you could certainly discuss this option with your plastic surgeon.  IV sedation typically involves a drug "cocktail" which is adjusted during the procedure to keep the patient comfortable.