| Additional Info » About Anesthesia |
Today's anesthetic agents are safer and easier to recover from than ever before. Patients generally wake up rapidly, feeling comfortable and alert, without nausea or disorientation. They are able to go home within a short time after surgery so they can enjoy the comfort of their own home. Therefore, almost all cosmetic surgery is performed in our office on a day surgery basis. Our fully equipped surgical suite and recovery area provide you with a secure, private, relaxing environment.
During surgery you will be kept very comfortable with an anesthetic technique selected by you and Dr. McBride. A simple description of the three main anesthetic options is as follows:
Local Anesthetic
A "local" is given by injection at the site where surgery will take place. It renders the nerves in a small area non-functional during the procedure so no pain is felt. A local anesthetic is usually used alone for minor procedures where you are comfortable to be awake but don't want to feel any pain. It is also usually used in combination with sedation or general anesthesia to ensure comfort during and in the immediate post-operative period.
Sedation, Light to Deep
When it is desirable to be relaxed and unaware of the details of a surgical procedure, drugs can be given orally or intravenously to produce a level of sedation that will maintain relaxation and comfort. Based on your needs and desires, the depth of the sedation can be adjusted so that you are relaxed but remain awake and remember the procedure, or you may be asleep and not remember anything. With this technique you will wake up faster than with a general anesthetic. General Anesthetic
Under a light general anesthetic you are completely asleep and have no awareness of your surrounding. A local anesthetic is given in each surgical site to provide complete comfort during and after surgery, and to reduce the dose of drugs required to keep you asleep. This is the technique used most frequently in our office. Usually you are breathing on your own and no breathing tubes are needed. However, some patients may benefit from assistance with breathing and a deeper level of anesthesia during the procedure. Recovery is rapid, comfortable and relaxed.
Be sure to inform Dr. McBride about all your medications, as well your medical and surgical history. To ensure you have the safest surgery possible, you should bring a list of all medications that you take on a regular basis, or have taken recently, with you to the preoperative visit. Providing Dr. McBride with your detailed medical history and drug list is very important, as this information is the basis upon which many anesthetic decisions are made. |