"Awake Surgery" And Why It's NOT A Good Idea
In cases of awake surgery, patients are given something known as local anesthesia which numbs a specific area.
Yes, there's such a thing as "awake" plastic surgery. In cases of awake surgery, patients are given something known as local anesthesia which numbs a specific area. Kind of like how the dentist will numb your mouth when filling a cavity.
So how does that work, exactly? Well, in "awake" plastic surgery you would be able to watch the procedure and give the surgeon answers when he asks questions. Patients are given light to moderate sedation to ease discomfort, then the local anesthesia to numb the area being targeted, and are otherwise alert. While the medical community acknowledges that there is such a thing available, it's important to recognize the risks involved.
When going into general anesthesia, an anesthesiologist is in the room throughout the operation. These professionals monitor you the entire time and they are trained to know exactly how to compensate for changes in blood or breathing. When a facility is accredited and employs board certified doctors, it means that years of training have been invested into your surgery. For awake surgery that same accreditation is not required. An anesthesiologist is not mandatory in the surgery room. And while you, as the patient, are able to specify the exact size of the implant or alteration mid-procedure... you will also be groggy from all sorts of medication. This is perhaps not the best state of mind for executive control on an appearance altering surgery.
In the end it's a choice left up to the patient. On request, and with sufficient reason, all accredited facilities are able (but not always willing) to accommodate awake surgery. However, non-accredited facilities which offer awake surgery CAN NOT accommodate general anesthesia. When considering plastic surgery, it's important to know the amount of training and experience those handling your safety have. Concern from the medical community has been peaked because of low qualifications from many surgeons practicing "awake" plastic surgery. The jury is still out on this one. Done under the right circumstances it could be a perfectly safe procedure. Under the wrong circumstances… not so guaranteed.
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