Hello, is this procedure possible without being fully sedated I do not like to be put to sleep?
Yes. An abdominoplasty can be performed without being put to sleep. It is much safer and we have found that patients heal faster.
The level of anesthesia depends on the kind of surgery you might need. If there is a significant muscle separation, repairing that with only local anesthesia can be uncomfortable. If you require liposuction as well as skin removal, the surgeon must infiltrate higher volumes of dilute local anesthetic. Injecting the local anesthesia can be very uncomfortable in some patients. You should consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Use the Find-A-Surgeon link to locate an ASPS member surgeon near you. Based on your anatomy and desired result, your surgeon will advise you on anesthesia choices. I always want my patients to be as comfortable as possible during the procedure, and I do a lot of local anesthetic surgery. But I also tell my patients that if you're uncomfortable, then I'm uncomfortable, and I may not be able to give you as good a result as we both might want if you are unable to lie still during the procedure.
In most cases a tummy tuck is performed under general anesthesia for patient safety and comfort. This is on a case by case basis so see a surgeon in consultation to discuss.
Yes, you can have a tummy tuck without general anesthesia-either IV sedation or epidural.
Dr.Ed Domanskis
Certified by American Board of Plastic Surgery
Newport Beach, Miami, San Francisco, Anguilla, Nassau, EU
drddomanskis@surgery-plastic.com
Associate Professor of Surgery(Plastic)WOP, University of California(Irvine)
Orange County Physician of Excellence, Top Doctors
It is important to evaluate each case on an individual basis. For a full tummy tuck, general anesthesia works best to optimize your results and limit the amount of local anesthesia to avoid toxicity. IV sedation is also possible. Focus on what will give you the best results from your surgery, and have an open discussion with your surgeon
Hello and thank you for your excellent question. For properly-selected patients, yes, it is possible to have a tummy tuck under local anesthesia. It is best to answer your question during a face-to-face evaluation, when you can discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure, and you can have a physical examination to evaluate for that procedure. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. If you have any questions, call our office for assistance. Good luck!