I'm Afraid Of Going Under General Anesthesia?

Question

And I've been shopping around not so much as price but safety . i have this fear of going under General Anesthesia simply because i read that people sometimes NEVER WAKE UP AT ALL. and a girl on this form said it took her longer to wake up from surgery which scared the crap out of me.I live in philadelphia pa and i'm willing to travel to Califorina . I just so scared of going under deep anesthesia.If there's not need. I would like a full Tummy Tuck 1st.

Eric Swanson, MD · Answer

You are not alone. When I see medical and nursing professionals in consultation they often ask as many questions about the anesthesia as they do about the surgery. They recognize that this is a very important consideration. Traditionally, a general endotracheal anesthetic is used for tummy tucks. This involves gas, intubation, paralysis, and mechanical ventilation. Total IV anesthesia avoids each of these unnecessary steps, making the anesthetic extremely safe (patients breathe on their own during surgery but they are asleep). Patients wake up quickly and are less likely to experience nausea. It is possible that this newer type of anesthetic may also help reduce the risk of blood clots forming in the legs by avoiding muscle paralysis and prone patient positioning during surgery. Excellent question. I've attached a link to this part of my website in case you wish to read more. There is always an element of risk in surgery. Our job is to make it as safe as possible. Also, surgeon experience is very important.

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

General Anesthesia is the safest method of Anesthesia - in my opinion- provided it is Administered by a Certified Anesthesia Provider, safe surgical setting, and of course provided patient is healthy and cleared to undergo surgical procedure.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for questions regarding general anesthetic fears. This is a common fear. In my practice, I would say that this is probably the most common fear encountered before any plastic surgery procedure. First of all, if you want a full tummy tuck, you need general anesthesia. The reason you need general anesthesia is that the abdominal muscles need to be paralyzed for adequate muscle plication. This is impossible to do well under IV sedation alone. Therefore, if you want a tummy tuck, you will need general anesthesia. General anesthesia nowadays is very safe compared to previous generations.  Anesthesia has come a long way regarding the anesthetic themselves, and the way we can monitor patients. In my experience, I have never witnessed a case where a patient never woke up after anesthesia. I use board-certified anesthesiologist with years of training and years of private practice experience. I would suggest when you are seeking a tummy tuck to select an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who uses an accredited facility. I would also specifically request that a board-certified anesthesiologist deliver and monitor your anesthesia. Perhaps, you could even request from your plastic surgeon that you speak with the anesthesiologist before the surgery so some of your fears can be diminished. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the fear of anesthesia. If you have any more questions regarding anesthesia during or after a tummy tuck, please contact my office. 
  
Sincerely,Dr. Katzen

Joshua D. Zuckerman, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.  In the hands of a board-certified anesthesiologist, at a properly AAAASF-accredited surgical facility, general anesthesia in a healthy patient is incredibly safe and effective.  As I tell my patients, you are never monitored more closely, or cared for more attentively, than in the operating room under anesthesia.

Vivek Bansal, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. General anesthesia is so much safer today than even 10 years ago. The gases are much more predictable than before. A general is very safe, and in nearly 20 years of surgery experience, I have never seen someone not wake up. That said, if you are still not feeling safe, have the procedure done at the hospital and get a spinal anesthetic. I hope this helps.

Robert F. Centeno, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. General anesthesia does have risks as any other procedure but is very safe.  Due to the improvement in medications, monitoring techniques and safety protocols, today it is as safe as flying in an airplane.  General anesthesia also allows your airway to be protected and monitored through out the procedure.  It is appropriate to do some procedures under local, some under local with sedation, and others require general anesthesia to keep you comfortable and safe.  Discuss your concerns with you surgeon and even seek a preop consultation with an anesthesiologist to improve your understanding of this part of your care.  Best wishes.

Miguel Delgado, MD · Answer

You are not alone, many people are fearful of anesthesia as there have been some horror stories in the news. But today with great advances in anesthesia it is very safe. In choosing your Board Certified surgeon, also ask questions about the anesthesiologist, make sure he/she is Board Certified. I have my own accredited surgery center and Board Certified Anesthesiologist who monitors the patients very closely and has a perfect safety record. Good luck.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

I perform about 1500 surgeries each year under general anesthesia, and I have not encountered a problem in this regard. A skilled and highly aware plastic surgeon in combination with a like minded anesthesiologist is the key in this situation. 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

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

It's more likely that you would be killed in a car accident on the way for your abdominoplasty and you would by an anesthetic catastrophe.

Don W. Griffin, MD · Answer

In young healthy people with no family history of anesthesia complications, general anesthesia carries very little risk. And even among the known risks of anesthesia, the situation where the anesthetics would prevent you from waking up for a long time is even more rare. I can't quote you statistics, but I can say that I have not heard of it happening in 16 years in the multiple surgery centers that I operate in.

	The procedure certainly can be done with an epidural block, and sedation, but I would bet that the risk of complications with this method is just as high or higher than the risk from a general anesthetic.

I'm Afraid Of Going Under General Anesthesia?

Answers (20)

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