IV Sedation....are you really asleep?

IV sedation is also known as conscious sedation.  When patients undergo surgery with IV sedation, they are breathing on their own but most people do fall in and out of sleep due to the sedation.  The amount of sedation can be varied to have you either more asleep or less asleep, but this must be done safely.  Most patients during IV sedation can be aroused to wake if needed.  You may be partially aware of what is happening, but most people are very comfortable with this type of anesthesia.  

There are many different types of anesthesia that are possible during a facelift procedure. These types range from oral sedation with local anesthesia to full general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Each surgeon and anesthesia provider has their own technique for facelifts. With IV sedation, this can mean being awake and quite aware of the surroundings, able to talk, etc. Alternatively, this same IV sedation can also mean being completely asleep, unaware of the surroundings, and snoring throughout the procedure. Be sure to ask your surgeon and anesthesia provider about these details and make sure you are comfortable with the type of anesthesia that is planned.
All the best,

The anesthesiologist will control level of consciousness. Iv sedation can range from conscious where you can answer questions to a technique called TIVA where you will be under much deeper anesthesia, all depending on what drugs you are given,bland what the plan is. hope this helps

IV sedation is a great way to go about face and neck lift enhancement. You are arousable but very sleepy. Most patients drift in and out of sleep. As long as your anesthesiologist is well versed in this approach, you shouldn't have any concerns. IV or oral sedation is the best approach.  General anesthesia is an unnecessary risk for this procedure. 

Yes, your anesthesiologist is correct. While you may hear those around you and answer questions, patients under IV sedation are often asleep through much of the procedure. The most important aspect is that you have any anesthetic technique under the care of a board certified anesthesiologist in a fully accredited surgery center. Best of luck!

IV sedation, also know as Twilight or conscious sedation, is a very common type of anesthesia used for facelift cases. Your anesthesiologist is likely just trying to prepare you for the experience. While it is true that you will be "awake" through much of the case, you will likely have very little memory of the procedure. It is also possible to titrate the medication so that you are more sedated and less aware. I hope this has been helpful.

 Intravenous sedation is just that, it is sedation, and not been put to sleep.  With IV sedation you will have  conscious awareness of the procedure and the injections.  Being put to sleep means general anesthesia, where you were completely asleep and will not have conscious awareness of the procedure. Most  patient's cannot tolerate sitting still for 3 and half hours, so in our practice we perform that length of a procedure under general anesthesia by a board-certified physician anesthesiologist. We also perform surgery in a licensed and certified outpatient surgery Center for patient safety and comfort.

In most cases with IV sedation you are sleeping lightly but still breathing on your own.  Many patients do not remember anything that happened during the course of the surgery however the sedation may be lightened if necessary so that your surgeon can speak to you.