In the past, general anesthesia has been the standard while performing plastic  surgery procedures. It is safe, consistent, and effective. But within the last  decade, newer forms and alternatives to general anesthesia have emerged. Some  of these have been deemed as possibly better for patients who are undergoing  plastic or cosmetic surgery. Dr. Michael Omidi of Beverly Hills, CA is a double board certified facial and body plastic surgeon who offers substitutes to general  anesthesia for patients to consider. These include some of the following: 

  • Sublingual tablet – for patients undergoing facial procedures such as a facelift or  browlift, a medication called Desuvia is often recommended. This medication is a  small table that dissolves under the tongue prior to surgery and provides the  patient with full relaxation and analgesia for up to three hours. Patients prefer this  method as it does not have the risks of general anesthesia, though provides  satisfactory comfort during their procedures. Even with sublingual tablets,  patients are monitored throughout the procedure to ensure their oxygen levels  remain at the proper levels. Certain risks such as aspiration, reactions to general  anesthetics, and undue stress on the heart and lungs are avoided.

 

  • · Moderate sedation – for patients undergoing breast and body procedures,  including those that take longer time to complete, moderate sedation is often  recommended. This form of anesthesia is administered through an IV. It makes the  patient sleepy, but not deep enough to cause them to stop breathing. This is done  in combination with regional or local anesthesia or blocks. Once the patient is  sleeping, lidocaine or longer acting Marcaine is injected into key nerves that block  the whole area. This is often used in specific areas to block the nerves from  sending pain signals to the patient. Once this is done, the area is completely  numb, similar to a dentist working on teeth and then only a small amount of IV  medication is necessary to keep the patient in a snooze mode rather than full  general anesthesia. This combination of anesthesia does not require intubation or  a ventilator, and eliminates the risk of blood clots. It is optimal for those who have  risks for blood clotting, are mildly obese, are often the age of 40, and have a  procedure time of an hour or longer. 

Which anesthesia is right for me? 

Dr. Michael Omidi of the Beverly Hills, CA area may make a recommendation for  anesthetics based on a patientʼs unique needs and health concerns. During a  consultation, he can educate patients on the various types of anesthetic used in  his practice and help in selecting the one most appropriate for an individual.

Ready for a modern approach to anesthetics for plastic surgery procedures? 

Learn more about the ways in which our double-board certified plastic surgeon in  Beverly Hills, CA and the Greater Los Angeles community can make obtaining  plastic surgery a comfortable process.