Absolutely not. Please understand that ANY physician (even your family doctor) may just one day decide they are now a 'cosmetic surgeon'. I have practiced and trained in several locations and in several different states. In every location I have seen deaths from cosmetic surgeons performing cases under local anesthesia. The reason that they perform cases under local (many times without monitoring or with a protected airway) is that no hospital will give them privileges to operate. Especially in Florida, the vast majority of cosmetic surgeons are not plastic surgeons and have no formal training as such. Operating under general anesthesia in an accredited surgery center with a board certified anesthesiologist is very safe.Good luck and be careful.
Liposuction and general anesthesia is safe. When multiple areas are done or if an area is large, it can be difficult to keep a patient comfortable under a local anesthesia. I do all my liposuction cases under general anesthesia as I feel I can do a better job when the patient is asleep and comfortable. I also feel at ease when my patient's airway is protected and they are being monitored. I operate with my husband who is our board certified anesthesiologist and we have been doing this for 20 years without incident. We do screen our patients and make sure they are healthy without major medical problems and increased risks for blood clots. Liposuction under local anesthesia can be unsafe if the patient is not monitored, or if larger or multiple areas are being treated and the lidocaine requirements exceed safe levels. I feel it is important for patient safety to do these procedures in a fully accredited outpatient surgical center with a board certified anesthesiologist.
