Can I Have a Tummy Tuck Done with a Spinal Block Instead of Under General?

              A tummy tuck is usually performed under general as the level of block with spinal anesthesia provided will not help with anesthesia of the upper abdomen.   Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of tummy tucks and liposuction procedures each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.

Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

while epidural can effectively anesthetise below the belly button level, it can not effectively numb the area above. A real tummy tuck requires tightening of the abdominal muscle up to the breasts, which will require adequate anesthesia in the upper abdomen, which can not be provided by an epidural!

Hello,

I disagree with my colleagues.  It is a long surgery that involves manipulating tissue at or above the lower edge of the rib cage, far to high to safely block by epidural anesthesia without risk of respiratory depression (inability to breath).  If you are healthy enough to have an abdominoplasty, then general anesthesia is a safe technique, and far more pleasant than being awake and probably in pain.  If you have issues with post operative nausea and vomiting, then you can discuss that with the anesthesiologist so that medications used during surgery minimize that risk. 

Best of luck!