Is it safe to get a facelift under local anesthesia?

Yes, it is safe to get a facelift under local anesthesia.  However, doing so often limits the surgery so, operations under local are usually shorter and simpler than those done under general anesthesia.  If you are looking for a more complete/thorough correction, a full facelift with adjunctive procedures may be better and general anesthesia may be more appropriate.  However, many mini facelifts, or simple skin lifts or mini smas lifts are done under local and are quite safe.

Best wishes,

Christopher C. Chang, MD

Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia

Hello.  Thank you for your question.  There are several anesthesia options available for performing facelift procedures, including local anesthesia alone, local anesthesia with light sedation using oral medication, local anesthesia with IV sedation, and general anesthesia.  The choice of anesthesia depends on multiple factors, including the type of procedures performed, anticipated length of the procedure, surgeon experience and preference, overall health of the patient, and anxiety level of the patient.  I offer all of these anesthesia techniques to my patients, and I have utilized them all.  I have performed over 3000 facelift procedures, and I have a perfect, untarnished anesthesia safety record.  Based on this experience, it is my opinion that facelift can absolutely be performed safely with local anesthesia alone, but it is preferable to use some light conscious sedation with oral or IV medications to help the patient feel more comfortable and relaxed during the procedure.  I feel that general anesthesia unnecessarily increases the risk and cost of the procedure, but may be appropriate for very long procedures or for anxious patients who can't tolerate the thought of possibly being awake or aware at times during the procedure.  Even with light conscious sedation with oral or IV medications, although patients may be awake or aware at times and can be easily aroused by verbal stimuli, most patients will sleep through the majority of the procedure, and typically have very little recall of the procedure afterward.  I would advise you to seek a consultation with a board-certified Plastic Surgeon or Facial Plastic Surgeon with extensive experience and expertise in facial rejuvenation to allow them to assess your individual anatomy, concerns, and goals, in order to determine the best treatment plan for you.  I wish you the best in achieving your aesthetic goals.

A traditional rhytidectomy, or facelift, is can be performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia.  This is a complex surgery that comprises many steps, such as:

Removing excess fat from the chinPerforming a platysmaplasty, which removes neck bands and tightens the neckLifting the SMAS upward and outwardRemoving excess skinReplacing or moving the fat to restore volume in the midfaceA full facelift will take several hours to perform, but will give you the most dramatic and long-lasting results, turning back the clock about 10 years. The rejuvenating effects should last another eight to 10 years. It depends on the patient’s personality and how long the procedure will take to decided what type of anesthesia is best.  Generally, a full facelift on a patient with a heavy neck will require general anesthesia because it takes a while to perform.  Patients needing less aggressive surgery with early aging are better candidates for local anesthesia.  It's very important to find a facial plastic surgeon with expertise in facial aesthetics and anatomy to get the best results. I hope this helps.

All surgical #procedures carry some degree of #risk. The suitability of your procedures and any specific risks may be determined during you #consultation. However, based on this evaluation, your board certified plastic surgeons will create a custom surgical plan, detailing specific techniques and recommendations to meet your goals. If you are not a #candidate, your surgeon can make other suggestions to address your concerns and objectives Also, another element to a #satisfying result of your procedures are realistic #expectations.Lite-lift™ is a modified facelift that can be performed in the office with a local anesthetic and improve signs of aging around the neck, jawbone and lower face. These procedures are not "Thread-lifts" or "String-lifts". We do not use the "barbed" sutures employed in these other lifting operations. The Lite-lift™ uses longer lasting techniques that are discussed below. Because the incisions are limited, there is less bruising, swelling and healing time for most patients. Many patients can be back to work in one to two weeks looking rested and more youthful.

Thank you for your question. Many cosmetic surgeries can be done under different forms of sedation. This can include twilight sedation, local anesthetic or even just a topical numbing agent, but it depends on the procedure. Keep in mind that the goal is to ensure your safety at all times and to be certain that you are comfortable during your procedure. I suggest that you consult with a board certified facial plastic surgeon to learn more about the procedure. 

Best wishes,

In the right hands, a variety of facelifts(not just mini lifts) can performed safely, comfortably and effectively under local anesthesia. Make sure that you research your surgeon and feel comfortable with their experience in doing a wide variety of surgeries under local anesthesia.  

Thanks for posting your question. I have performed thousands of facelifts, neck lifts, mini lifts, blephs, lasers and chin implants all under local anesthesia and oral sedation. Administered properly, patients are comfortable and have an easier recovery. There is an art and science to this local anesthesia technique to acquire a high level of patient comfort. There is a certain skill involved with facelifts under local anesthesia so ask about your surgeons experience with the procedure. Some surgeons only perform mini lifts in their office. A true face and neck lift will involve liposuction, excision of the SMAS muscle layer and a platysmaplasty and in skilled hands can be done under local.   The risks, both short term and long term, of general anesthesia are eliminated. Please consult with several board certified surgeons experienced in facelifting and also in local anesthesia techniques. Ultimately there is no right or wrong way to have anesthesia for a facelift. You and your surgeon will decide what methods are best for you.

Thank you for your question. There are many variations of facelifts. I have performed thousands of facelifts under local anesthesia with sedation and feel it has some advantages over general anesthesia. The experience of your surgeon with these techniques are important to a good experience and good result.   Ultimately your comfort  and the efficiency of the surgery will determine how much can be accomplished in a reasonable time. Make sure your  surgeon performs these procedures frequently and find out what is included (i.e. whether  it is a mini lift or includes liposuction, platysma and SMAS tightening etc. ) Also, look at before and after pictures of similar types of individuals who have had these procedures with your surgeon to get an idea what to expect in your circumstance. Cosmetic Surgery  requires both technical skill and an understanding of aesthetic proportions. Each procedure addresses certain areas,  so make sure you and your surgeon formulate a plan to address your specific concerns. 

Thank you for your question.  Yes a plastic surgeon with the correct skills and technique using local anaesthetic  is completely safe. The Concept™ facelift and neck lift procedure I provide to my patients is suitable for patients wanting to reduce sagging in the lower face and neck and regain a more natural, rejuvenated appearance.  The procedure is less invasive than a traditional facelift and there is less scarring, bruising and swelling for a significantly quicker recovery period.  The Concept™ Facelift and Neck Lift can be performed under local anaesthetic (some people may opt for twilight sedation).

What are the benefit of The Concept Facelift, under local anaesthetic?

Minimally invasive as it is a short scar faceliftThere is minimal bruising and swelling, especially when compared to traditional faceliftsAs the procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, you can go straight home following the procedureFull recovery in a matter of days rather than monthsSignificantly less risk than Facelifts performed under general anaestheticFresh, youthful and long lasting resultsThe Concept facelift procedure targets the muscle and skin therefore giving a longevity of 7-10 years, the same as a traditional facelift. 

Please make sure you find a reputable and qualified plastic surgeon who can assess you properly to give you a realistic idea of what outcome you can achieve.

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All The Best

Thank you for your question.  I have to admit that I am a bit biased on the topic of anesthesia since I do most of my facelifts under local.  I use mild sedation to make patient feel comfortable and then use injection of local anesthetic solution to numb up the face and neck.  Altogether I've done well over a thousand facelifts under local and never encountered any problems related to the choice of anesthesia.  There are several reasons why I and many of my patients prefer to use local as oppose to general anesthesia.  Among those, safety, ease of recovery and possibly less severe postoperative bruising and swelling.  However, don't get me wrong, I don't believe there is anything wrong with using a heavier form anesthesia for a facelift, as long as it's done by an experienced anesthesiologist.  Also, the choice of anesthesia often depends on the state of health of the patiet and the type and extent of the facelift that is being performed.  I would recommend asking for your surgeon's opinion on the best type of anesthesia for your procedure.  Best wishes!Dr. Konstantin

This is a great question, and one that comes up regularly. Yes, it is safe to have a facelift under local anesthesia. The next, and perhaps more important question, is what is being done. If local anesthesia results in a shorter surgery, with less work done, or cutting corners in terms of the procedure that you need... then it's not worth the tradeoff. It is difficult for any patient to lay still for 3 or more hours while the work is done. Please make sure you know what you're signing up for if you choose this path. Take care!