Plastic Surgery Edition: What Is Local Anesthesia?

Local VS General Anesthesia

Local anesthesia simply means that only the area that will have the procedure is numbed and the patient is awake during the procedure. Whereas with general anesthesia, the patient is completely asleep and unconscious during the procedure. For procedures under general anesthesia, patients will receive medication by IV or by inhaling it and a ventilator will breathe for you.

What Does The Process For Surgery Under Local Anesthesia Look Like?

Step 1: Oral medication

You will take oral medication before your procedure which will help you relax and alleviate pain.

Step 2: Injections to numb the area

You will be injected with lidocaine or a numbing medication using a needle to fully numb the area being worked on. This step is typically described as a little bee sting 🐝 or as a burning sensation. If we're injecting tumescent for liposuction, some patients have described this as a skin stretching sensation. The good news is that any discomfort from the numbing process is very short lived because patients quickly become numb!

Is It Painful To Be Awake During Surgery?

No, patients should feel pretty comfortable ❤️ Because the patient is medicated and numbed, patients should experience little to no discomfort during the procedure.

What Happens If I Feel Discomfort During The Procedure?

If you feel any discomfort at any point during awake liposuction, you will simply let your plastic surgeon know so they can give you more numbing medication. They will numb you until you are completely comfortable before continuing.

Which Procedures Are Performed Under Local Anesthesia?

Each plastic surgeon will determine which procedures they offer under local or general anesthesia. At our practice, these are the procedures that we offer under local anesthesia:

• Liposuction

• Mini tummy tuck

• Neck lift

• Facelift

• Scar revision

• Upper lip lift

• Buccal fat removal

• Umbilicoplasty

• Areola reduction

• Blepharoplasty

• Brazilian butt lift

• Breast implant removal

• Brow lift

• Earlobe correction/reduction

• Gynecomastia

• Labiaplasty

If you’re interested in booking a consultation with one of our talented plastic surgeons in Orlando, FL, we offer both virtual and in-person consultations where you will receive an evaluation, discuss your goals, ask any questions you may have, and then receive an exact quote along with financing information. To book your consultation, call us at (407) 377-5438 or fill out our online form here and a patient concierge will be in contact with you.