Which Is Better For Liposuction--local Or General Anesthetic?

Although liposuction could only be performed under general anesthetic when it was first invented

, improvements in techniques have made it possible to perform it under either general or local anesthesia. Doctors currently perform the surgery under both forms of anesthesia, although local is more popular and safer.

When liposuction (also called lipoplasty and lipectomy) was very first introduced, it was an extremely invasive and traumatic surgery. Reports suggest that blood made up up to a third of the tissue removed by early lipectomies.

With the introduction of the tumescent method in the mid 80's, however, the body trauma and blood loss have been lessened drastically. The tumescent method, which operates by injecting large amounts of fluid into the target area in order to ease the removal of fat, also makes it possible for liposuction to be performed under local anesthesia.

Most of the techniques developed since the tumescent technique can similarly be performed under local anesthesia.

Exactly which type of anesthetic you use may depend some on your tastes, your doctor's wishes and your own personal condition. However, if possible it is probably best if you use local anesthesia.

Everyone knows that general anesthesia has a larger effect on your body than local. Merely the fact that general anesthesia deadens pain throughout the whole body and suppresses consciousness shows that fact. As such, the risks associated with general anesthetic are larger than the risks of local anesthesia.

Although general anesthesia is usually safe, there is always the possibility for human error. And although slipups with general anesthesia are rare, they are frequently very serious. Virtually all liposuction deaths recorded have occurred during a surgery using general anesthetic.

These deaths and complications don't only come from problems involving the anesthetic. The simple fact that the patient is unconscious and unable to communicate with the doctor increases the risks. If a patient is awake, he or she can alert the doctor if he/she experiences unusual and possibly problematic symptoms such as lightheadedness, pain, dizziness and difficulty breathing. An unconscious patient will not be able to communicate this, and it may take longer to catch these complications.

Patients who undergo liposuction under local anesthesia typically recover more quickly and experience less pain during recovery. They are also much less likely to have problems from occasional but seriously upsetting clerical errors. Very occasionally, there have been misunderstandings between doctors and patients which lead to the wrong area being operated on. A conscious patient will be able to catch and solve this error before it's too late.

Some people worry that they won't be able to undergo anesthetic under local anesthetic because of a fear of needles. For people like this, a doctor can often provide some sort of light sedative or anti-anxiety medication to help the patient remain calm and relaxed.

If you want to learn more about these different anesthetic possibilities and more about liposuction, speak with a doctor in your area. Many surgeons offer free consultations to potential clients. Your surgeon should be able to answer any questions you might have about which form of anesthesia would be best for you.

by: Christian Heftel

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