What Plastic Surgery Procedures Require General Anesthesia? 

When planning for plastic surgery, some patients choose anesthesia based on the surgical procedure they’re having. One anesthesia technique used in more extensive plastic surgeries is general anesthesia. This anesthesia can help you undergo various cosmetic surgeries without pain or discomfort.

General Anesthesia and Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgeons often rely on general anesthesia to render patients unconscious throughout the procedure. This prevents you from feeling discomfort during the surgery or having memories of the surgical procedure. General anesthesia is effective when plastic surgeons require a surgical field that won’t move during surgery. It serves as a muscle relaxant to prevent muscle tension, stiffness, and pain.

When unconscious, your muscles or nerves can’t move, facilitating a safe and quick procedure. An anesthesiologist will monitor you throughout the cosmetic procedure to keep you stable. After the procedure, the medication used in anesthesia wears off quickly, allowing you to wake up. Here are a few plastic surgery procedures that require general anesthesia:

Tummy Tuck

Changes in weight, pregnancy, and aging may cause the abdominal skin to bulge or become loose. These changes may also weaken your abdominal muscles. If exercise and weight control fail to restore the skin’s elasticity, a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) procedure can help.

This surgical procedure is designed to improve the appearance of the abdominal area. It involves incisions across the lower abdomen to remove loose or excess skin and fat. The procedure realigns and tightens the abdominal muscles, resulting in a smoother, flatter abdominal profile. During the operation, patients are placed under general anesthesia to allow for a safe operation.

Breast Procedures

Patients seeking breast surgeries can be placed under general anesthesia, especially in more complex and lengthy procedures. One of these procedures is breast augmentation, which improves and balances the size and shape of your breasts. You may rely on this procedure to restore breast volume decreases due to weight loss or pregnancy. Plastic surgeons place breast implants underneath your breast tissue, creating a more rounded shape.

Other procedures, such as breast reduction and reconstruction, can also help restore breast size and shape. Breast reduction is ideal for women with large breasts. The procedure removes excess fat, skin, and breast tissue, resulting in smaller, lifted breasts. Breast reconstruction involves constructing natural-looking breasts in patients who have undergone breast removal (mastectomy).

Liposuction

A plastic surgeon can perform liposuction under anesthesia depending on the areas treated or a patient’s preferences. If the area being treated is large, especially the abdomen, back, hips, or buttocks, general anesthesia might help. Liposuction surgery aims at removing stubborn or excess fat deposits from targeted areas.

It involves making small incisions and inserting a cannula (thin, hollow tube) to suction out the fat. Liposuction helps in reshaping the body to create a more sculpted appearance. Your surgeon may combine this procedure with a tummy tuck or breast reduction to improve body proportions.

Facelift

A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a cosmetic procedure that rejuvenates the skin on the upper body. It involves lifting and pulling back the skin around the jawline, cheeks, and neck. This procedure helps create smoother, tighter skin and a more youthful appearance.

During facelifts, plastic surgeons make inconspicuous incisions, often behind your hairline. They remove any excess skin and fat and reposition the underlying tissues. After surgery, you won’t have fine lines or deep creases that result from sun exposure or aging. Your surgeon may combine this procedure with eyelid surgery and browlift for more complete results.

Arm Lift

An arm lift (brachioplasty) is another cosmetic surgery that may be performed under general anesthesia. It’s ideal for people with loose skin on the upper arms due to weight changes or aging. Plastic surgeons make incisions along the back or inner part of the arms, allowing them to target specific areas with excess loose skin and fat.

Your surgeon will remove the flabby skin and excess fat to create a tighter appearance. This procedure also helps improve the contours of your upper arms, making them better proportioned. After surgery, avoid lifting heavy objects or performing strenuous exercises to promote healing.

Achieve Successful Plastic Surgery Results

Various cosmetic procedures can help individuals looking to restore volume or remove excess skin and fat. These procedures can be invasive and lengthy, requiring general anesthesia. With this anesthesia, your surgeon will perform the procedure safely and personalize the results to match your preferences. Contact a trusted plastic surgeon today to learn more about cosmetic procedures that require general anesthesia.