Scared of waking up during Breast Lift surgery. Please help :( - how to rationalize?

Question

Recently I have become very scared that I will wake up during the surgery. I've seen some very scary numbers and apparently it happens quite often (1 in 19,000 cases). I'm trying hard to rationalize this fear. Please help. Has this ever happened with breast lift surgeries? Or is it more for serious, organ surgeries (heart, lung etc)? Also, are total-body paralyzing drugs usually used for breast lifts? So if I awake, will I be able to move my arm or something to alert? Thank you.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

Must patients who have some awareness during surgery had sedation, not full general anesthesia. With general anesthesia your risk of waking up are remote.

Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHS · Answer

It’s completely understandable to feel nervous about anesthesia and waking up during surgery, but the risk is extremely low, especially for breast lift surgery. 
For most cosmetic surgeries, including breast lifts, general anesthesia is used, which makes it very unlikely that you'll "wake up" during the procedure. For a breast lift, there is typically no need for paralyzing drugs that completely immobilize you. The anesthesia team monitors you throughout the procedure and adjusts the level of anesthesia if needed. If there is any sign that you might be feeling discomfort, they will administer more anesthesia to ensure you're unconscious and comfortable. Anesthesiologists use advanced monitoring equipment to ensure you remain safely under anesthesia throughout the surgery. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your anesthesiologist before surgery so that you feel comfortable! 
Remember, the vast majority of people who undergo breast lift surgery do so without any issues with anesthesia. The surgical environment, particularly in accredited surgical centers with experienced anesthesiologists and surgeons, is designed for safety. 
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

You should not require paralyzing anesthesia for a breast lift, but even if you did modern methods of monitoring make it virtually impossible that you could be awake but paralyzed. Feel free to ask your anesthesia provider about it before surgery.

Donald R. Revis Jr, MD · Answer

Good afternoon,
I have been in practice for 22 years and never had this happen- but I also operate only in a fully accredited ambulatory surgery center or full service hospital with board certified M.D. anesthesiologists. If you have your surgery in someone's office surgery suite, then all bets are off because you never know the experience or training of the "staff" and what corners they may be cutting. I know a surgeon in Delray Beach who met his "O.R. nurse" at Lowe's where she was working in the Home and Garden department- check references, ask questions, and be an educated consumer.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Forceful1422,
general anesthesia is a very safe option for breast lift surgery. I've done thousands of surgeries and never had a patient wake up during surgery.. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist. 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

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Most people do very well with general anesthesia and do not wake up. The paralyzing drugs are only used in the beginning for the breast lift. Procedures like open heart surgery do report some waking up while they are on bypass since some of the medications are now in the bypass machine.  Your anesthesiologist will be present the whole time to watch and give you medications as needed.  If you are still too worried, then perhaps elective cosmetic surgery is not right for you.

David Mattos, MD · Answer

1 in 19,000 is extremely unlikely! I would not worry about it. Additionally, breast lift surgery does not require paralyzing drugs, and therefore if you were in any way light under anesthesia your body would move and the anesthesia team would put you deeper under anesthesia to make sure you're not awake or uncomfortable. And to be clear, even when patients move slightly under anesthesia, it does not mean they are awake, simply a marker that the anesthesia is started to wear off and needs to be redosed. Talk to your anesthesiologist about your concerns. Good luck!

Douglas Taranow, DO, FACOS · Answer

I have been in practice for 26 years with an anesthesiologists on all of my cases.  We have never had a patient wake up in the middle of the procedure.  Proper monitoring of anesthetized patients allows for instantaneous adjustments if the patient gets lighter during the procedure.  Chose your board certified Plastic Surgeon appropriately and you should have no issues.
Best wishes.
Dr. Taranow

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

General anesthesia will not paralyze your entire body.  Anesthesia awareness is apparently real, although I have never encountered it in over 40 years of practice.  It is statistically more likely to occur in individuals who have abused alcohol and narcotics.  There is a tremendous amount that we do not know about the manifestations if anesthesia.  Perhaps it would be advisable for you to speak with a board certified anesthesiologist who can explain the process to alleviate your fears.

Gokhan Temiz, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

During my practice, I have performed many plastic surgery procedures with general anesthesia and I never faced any kind of problems. I perform surgeries in full equipped hospitals. During the surgery, M.D. anesthegiologist monitoring the whole process to prevent any kind of problems. If you have a fear like that I strongly suggest you to contact with a board certified surgeon who performs the procedures in a full equipped hospital.

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