Safer, Less Expensive Anesthesia Option for Cosmetic Surgery

June 30, 2006
Tumescent anesthesia, or local anesthesia, is a new option for those who are going under the knife, but don't want to “go under.” Most cosmetic surgery procedures are generally performed under general anesthesia in which the patient is put to sleep. However, tumescent anesthesia is a less expensive technique that offers a safer alternative for plastic surgery procedures.

According to Dr. Edward Lack, a dermatologic cosmetic surgeon and president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, tumescent anesthesia was a technique originally used in liposuction procedures, but can now be used for everything from breast augmentation to face-lifts.

Tumescent anesthesia involves injecting a mixture of saltwater, the painkiller lidocaine, and adrenaline, or epinephrine, which stops bleeding into a patient's skin. The patient remains awake during the surgery, but is numb to the procedure.

Patients who opt for tumescent anesthesia can have their procedure performed in an office setting rather than an operating room, which significantly decreases costs. Furthermore, most patients can walk right out of the office after the procedure with little recovery time and minimal bruising.

With tumescent anesthesia, patients are significantly reducing the risk of adverse reactions that are not uncommon with general anesthesia. According to Lack, avoiding general anesthesia cuts the death risk in half. Other benefits include faster recovery time, less potential for bleeding, and less need for narcotics.

While, tumescent anesthesia is safe, experts emphasize the importance of having a trained specialist monitor a patient's vital signs during surgery.

For more information about tumescent anesthesia or to speak with a board certified plastic surgeon near you, please contact us today.

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