Is it normal to be terrified of general anesthesia for breast augmentation?

Hello,Your risk of injury or death from anesthesia is less than that from driving a car on a freeway, something I presume you do frequently. Your fears are not based in reality. No one can convince you though. Best of luck!

Yes, it is normal.   I recommend an in-office examination as well as a detailed discussion with a surgeon who you are comfortable with.   Finally, make sure your surgeon is a Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).Best,Dr. DesaiBeverly Hills Institute for Aesthetic Plastic SurgeryHarvard Educated, Beverly Hills & Miami Beach TrainedDouble Board-Certified, Double Fellowship-Trained Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Everyone is at least a little nervous before anesthesia, and some patients are terrified, as you are. That's not uncommon at all. For a patient of your young age and good health, anesthesia is EXTREMELY safe now if performed in a fully accredited surgery center by a board certified anesthesiologist. As I explain to my patients, their  risk of having a serious problem is greater driving home from my office after the consultation than it is from the general anesthesia. In other words, the risk is not zero, just as it is not zero when driving your car, but the risk is so low that you should not really be overly worried about it as a realistic outcome.  You probably don't think about not surviving every time you get in your car to drive, because the risk is simply so low. 

It's completely normal to be anxious about undergoing general anesthesia.  If you're healthy, it should be safe to have an augmentation under general.  Make sure that you're doctor is a board-certified plastic surgeon and he/she uses a qualified anesthesiologist.  Most plastic surgeons will do this surgery under general.  Very few will do it without anesthesia.  

Thank you for the question. It is not unsual to be fearful of having general anesthesia however as long as you are healthy it should be fine. You can also consult with your primary care to make sure you are healthy enough to undergo general anesthesia. Most board certified plastic surgeons use a board certified anesthesiologists. It is also important to find appropriate board certified plastic surgeon that you trust. Good luck.

HI ,m  Yes, it is totally normal to have this fear. I myself have had surgery and I was just as afraid as the next person. It is most important to have a board certified anesthesiologist as your doctor. If you are healthy and properly evaluated prior to surgery, have no major anesthetic issues, you should be fine. It is also very helpful to at least speak with your anesthesiologist prior to surgery. I think , in most case, this conversation will give you an idea of how he/she will take care of you. You can also ask pre-op nurses whom they would choose and this is a good way to pick a competent anesthesiologistGood Luck,Dr. Christine Rodgers

Yes, your fear of anesthesia is normal and common. My patients have their surgery in the safety of a hospital with certified anesthesiologists, sensitive and competent registered nurses. Patients have their blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen level monitored every second throughout the one hour procedure. Medication is given ahead of time to help reduce anxiety. Only you can decide if the end result is worth the anxiety. Hope this information is helpful and reassuring.Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author

A certain degree of nervousness is of course a normal reaction to the prospect of having surgery and going under anesthesia.However, in the hands of board-certified plastic surgeons, breast augmentation surgery is overwhelmingly done safely and without patients either waking up during surgery nor failing to wake up. Of course, risks depend on a patient's general health, genetic risk factors, and other considerations, but a good preoperative assessment can identify many of these issues.Board-certified plastic surgeons usually operate in accredited surgery centers and hospitals and many of us prefer to have anesthesia delivered by board-certified anesthesiologists (though I have also worked with very experienced and skilled CRNA's; we currently use MD anesthesiologists in the facilities where I perform surgery and this is the most common scenario in our profession). We are very experienced at working patients up preop for risk factors and obtaining medical clearances when required based on age, medical factors or other considerations.The vast majority of the time, general anesthesia is preferable for this kind of surgery because it allows the patient to be completely sedated and have no experience or memory of the procedure and no pain during the process. It also permits better management and control of the airway, as opposed to trying to do the procedure with a semi-awake, semi-sedated patient. Also, going under the muscle (which statistically is expected to have a lower risk of forming a capsular contracture around the implant) makes it hard to keep the patient comfortable under local anesthesia as numbing the muscle is harder than numbing the skin. If you are really too fearful of general anesthesia, you may be a candidate for subglandular breast augmentation (on top of muscle), which can more comfortably be done without general, but does have some specific risks and may not be appropriate for patients with very small breasts.Have a frank conversation with any plastic surgeon with whom you consult, and I think you will receive a very reassuring discussion. Hope this helps!

Dear 1Amadeus
Some fear and apprehension elated to your planned procedure is normal.  If your feeling very anxious it would be a good and reasonable idea to ask your surgeon if you could meet with the anesthesiologist before hand and eve have a brief tour of the operating room.   You'll have a better idea about the process and the people that will be taking care of you.  hope this helps
James Sheridan, MD
Austin, TX

Thank you for your question. It is not uncommon to have fear of anesthesia to some degree. Some patients experience more fear and concern than others. If you are considering breast augmentation, I suggest that you research and consult with board certified Plastic Surgeons to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure and discuss your fears. To reduce potential risks and side effects, make sure your surgery would be done at a fully licensed surgical facility and anesthesia is administered by a board certified Anesthesiologist.