I am going in for cosmetic surgery Tummy tuck but want to know what choices of sedation there are?whats safest

Im 5'7 190 lbs going in for tummy tuck,lipo of hips


I really dont know if I want general anesthesia I have NEVER had any surgery before..I think my surgery is suppose to be about 4 hours can you use local and a more short acting safer sedative other then general anesthesia? Thank you!I am going in for cosmetic surgery Tummy tuck but want to know what choices of sedation there are?whats safest
I have witnessed this operation. GA is a good idea. I cannot imagine having any other option. Usually, an injection to relax you will be given first and then you should remember nothing about it. One night in hospital should be enough but you will require fairly strong analgesia for 24 hours post-op. I would ask your surgeon for GA definitely unless there is some strong contraindication in which case you probably shouldn't have the op anyway. Good luck.I am going in for cosmetic surgery Tummy tuck but want to know what choices of sedation there are?whats safest
There are several forms of anesthesia:





General: anesthesia resulting in amnesia, with a loss of protective airway reflexes. While usually administered with inhalational agents, general anesthesia can be achieved with intravenous agents, such as propofol. Amnesia is the main characteristic, while analgesia and muscle relaxation may be present, to varying degrees.


Regional: Loss of pain sensation, with varying degrees of muscle relaxation, in certain regions of the body. Administered with local anesthesia to peripheral nerve bundles, such as the brachial plexus in the neck. Examples include the interscalene block for shoulder surgery, axillary block for wrist surgery, and femoral nerve block for leg surgery. While traditionally administered as a single injection, newer techniques involve placement of indwelling catheters for continuous or intermittent administration of local anesthetics.


Spinal: aka ';Sub Arachnoid Block'; Refers to a regional block resulting from a small volume of local anesthetics being injected into the spinal canal. The spinal canal is covered by the dura mater, through which the spinal needle enters. The spinal canal contains cerebrospinal fluid and the spinal cord. The sub arachnoid block is usually injected between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae, because the spinal cord usually stops at the 1st lumbar vertebra, while the canal continues to the sacral vertebrae. It results in a loss of pain sensation and muscle strength, usually up to the level of the chest (nipple line or 4th thoracic dermatome).


Epidural: Regional block resulting from an injection of a large volume of local anesthetic into the epidural space. The epidural space is a potential space that lies underneath the ligamenta flava, and outside the dura mater(outside layer of the spinal canal). This is basically an injection around the spinal canal.


Local anesthesia is similar to regional anesthesia, but exerts its effect on a smaller area of the body.


Not all surgical procedures require anesthetic. Sometimes no anesthetic is required, and conscious sedation is used, which does not result in loss of consciousness or significant analgesia, but frequently produces a degree of amnesia, and relaxes the patient.





According to a 1999 report from the Institute of Medicine, anesthesia care today is nearly 50 times safer than it was 20 years ago.
ANESTHESIA IS ACTUALLY AWESOME- YOU JUST BLANK OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HAD SOME CHILLS BEFORE AND THEN YOU WAKE UP AND YOU DO NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING. IT'S HARMLESS- GET INTRAVENOUS OF COURSE YOUR ANESTHETOLOGIST WILL TALK YOU THROUGH THE PROCEDURE
I'm not a doctor but I do have training in physiology... so here's my 2 cents:





With a 4 hour operation involving lipo and manual realignment of skin folds plus extras I do not think I personaly would want to be alert and able to watch the carnage. If you have ever seen these procedures they are not pretty. Although you would probably be sedated with Diazepam or Ativan, you will still be alert to watch the docs fill bags with your bloody tissues. Anxiety might still creep in in leiu of the anti anxiety meds given.





I would opt for GA for these procedures. You'll go to sleep and then wake up slimmer and tighter, and a little sore but withought mental trauma you would likely receive from watching the crew carve you up.





GA is very safe. The Anesthesiologist constantly monitors your flow to make sure you stay in the correct range. I think of local as an outpatient only tool. If I am getting sliced open and it it serious enough to keep me in hospital for a period of time I always go GA.