Breast Augmentation Under Local Anesthesia

In most cases, breast augmentation surgery is performed while the patient is under twilight anesthesia, also known as IV sedation. This technique uses many of the same medications that general anesthesia uses but in much lower doses, and sedates the patient without rendering her completely unconscious or requiring the patient be hooked up to a respirator to help her breath during surgery. The purpose of twilight anesthesia is to keep the patient comfortable and pain-free during the surgical procedure. The patient not be able to remember what has taken place during the surgery.

While twilight anesthesia is typically used for breast augmentation, there is also the option to perform the breast enhancement surgery under local anesthesia only.

Why would a breast augmentation patient choose local anesthetic?

While it’s not for most, having breast surgery done under local anesthesia is a good option for patients who are excessively nervous or uneasy about being placed under twilight anesthesia or who have possibly experience adverse side effects to sedation anesthesia in the past. In this case, the patient will be given strong pain medication and Novocaine prior to surgery. Once those medications are combined with the local anesthesia administered by injections to the breasts, so that the area is completely numb. Denver plastic surgeon, Dr. Nick Slenkovich ensures that the patient is completely comfortable and at ease in the operating room.

What is different about breast surgery under local anesthetic?

The biggest difference with local anesthesia is that the patient is awake, alert and talking to Dr Slenkovich and the surgical staff throughout the breast augmentation surgery. This allows for a much quicker recovery time because the patient does not need to regain consciousness after surgery. In order to be a good candidate for breast surgery under local anesthesia, the patient needs to be comfortable with being awake during the surgery. This, along with the entire procedure and anesthesia injections, will be discussed during the initial consultation with Dr. Slenkovich.

Is breast surgery under local anesthesia safe?

Yes, breast surgery under local anesthetic is very safe. But in the event that the surgical team is unable to make you comfortable with local anesthesia, twilight anesthesia will be used instead.

If you live in the Denver, Colorado area and would like to learn more about breast augmentation using local anesthesia, please contact Dr. Nick Slenkovich today to schedule your confidential consultation.