Breast Augmentation Without General Anesthesia

First, let’s talk about what breast augmentation surgery is. It’s a procedure where implants are placed in your breasts to make them larger. The implants are typically made of silicone gel or saline (sterile saltwater).

If you’ve ever had an MRI, you probably know that the machine takes pictures of your body using magnetic waves. If you’ve ever had an X-ray, you probably know that the machine takes pictures of your body using radiation. Both MRI and X-ray machines use powerful magnetic and radiation fields to take those pictures. In this exposition, we’ll also consider breast augmentation without general anesthesia and can you get a breast augmentation without anesthesia.

The same is true for breast augmentation surgery: it uses strong magnetic and radiation fields to guide the implants into place within your breasts. These strong magnetic and radiation fields can cause problems with certain types of heart pacemakers, which is why we ask patients having this procedure to come in advance of their consultation so we can check their heart pacemaker before they have surgery.

Breast Augmentation Without General Anesthesia

General anesthesia has long been a crucial component of modern medicine, allowing patients to undergo intensive surgeries while being completely unconscious. This method provides maximum comfort for the patient and enables the surgeon to work efficiently without any disruptions. However, it is important to note that general anesthesia is not always necessary for every surgical procedure. In fact, there are a variety of surgeries that can be performed using awake plastic surgery techniques, which only require local anesthesia or light sedation.

Awake plastic surgery procedures have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they offer several benefits for both patients and surgeons. By utilizing local anesthesia or light sedation, patients can avoid the potential risks and side effects associated with general anesthesia, such as nausea, vomiting, and prolonged recovery times. Additionally, awake plastic surgery allows patients to provide real-time feedback to the surgeon during the procedure, ensuring optimal results and a more personalized experience.

One common example of an awake plastic surgery procedure is liposuction. This minimally invasive surgery involves the removal of excess fat deposits from specific areas of the body, such as the abdomen, thighs, or arms. By using tumescent anesthesia, which numbs the targeted area and constricts blood vessels to minimize bleeding, patients can undergo liposuction without the need for general anesthesia. This not only reduces the overall risks and costs associated with the procedure but also allows for quicker recovery and minimal downtime.

Another popular awake plastic surgery procedure is the facelift, also known as rhytidectomy. This surgery involves lifting and tightening the facial skin to reduce wrinkles and improve overall facial appearance. With the use of local anesthesia and light sedation, patients can remain awake and alert during the procedure, allowing the surgeon to make precise adjustments based on the patient’s feedback. Awake facelifts are particularly beneficial for older patients who may not be ideal candidates for general anesthesia due to underlying health conditions.

In conclusion, while general anesthesia has its place in modern medicine for intensive surgeries, it is not always necessary for every procedure. Awake plastic surgery techniques, which utilize local anesthesia or light sedation, offer a safe and effective alternative for a variety of surgical procedures, including liposuction and facelifts. By choosing awake plastic surgery, patients can experience a more personalized and comfortable surgical experience while minimizing the risks and complications associated with general anesthesia.

At Gabbay Plastic Surgery, our goal is to combine excellence and comfort for every patient. While many of our procedures can be done with general anesthesia, almost all procedures can be done with an alternative means of comfort.

WHY CHOOSE AWAKE PROCEDURES?

General anesthesia leaves you completely unconscious. For intensive surgeries, this is ideal. For several reasons:

• It allows the surgeon to work more easily
• You feel absolutely no pain

However, this means of sedation is not always ideal. General anesthesia carries with it the most risk. Not only does is prove more likely to cause side effects, but it can interact with certain medical conditions. That is why we always conduct a full medical history before using it with a patient.

Avoid General Anesthesia if You Have:

• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Kidney Problems
• Sleep Apnea
• And more.

Your physician will always discuss the conditions of general anesthesia beforehand to keep you safe.

BENEFITS OF AWAKE PROCEDURES

Awake procedures tend to be much safer while still providing a high level of comfort. Instead of complete sedation, you may receive local anesthetic, IV sedation, or a combination of both. These awake options come with several significant benefits.

Recovery: Since less stress is put on the body, you can recover more quickly from your procedure. You can decrease total recovery time by days if you choose an awake procedure.
Safety: Awake procedures carry far less risk than those with general anesthesia. Since there are fewer drugs involved, there is far less chance for side effects. There is much less stress on your heart and lungs, especially.
Affordability: General anesthesia requires a more complex and cost-heavy process. Awake procedures reduce this complexity. In practical terms, this results in lower costs without sacrificing quality.

PATIENT INPUT IS CENTRAL

Often, patients have the choice of how to go about the procedure. If the thought of being conscious during surgery is stressful, be sure to communicate this to Dr. Gabbay. Receiving plastic surgery should be an exciting and transformative moment. That is why we always work to ensure patients are fully comfortable before proceeding.

When you choose an awake procedure, we take every precaution to ensure a fully comfortable experience. Using our experience and skill, we deliver cosmetic surgery that is transformative and exciting.

TUMESCENT SOLUTION

Using this unique solution, plastic surgery can be performed comfortably while the patient is still awake. The tumescent wetting solution has three main parts:

• Local anesthetic
• Saltwater
• Adrenaline

Each part of the solution plays a role in making the procedure comfortable and efficient. The anesthetic eliminates pain and sensitivity. The saltwater ensures a sterile and clean process. And the adrenaline constricts blood vessels, resulting in minimal bleeding during your procedure. When carefully prepared, a tumescent solution allows patients to experience a comfortable awake procedure.

WHAT SURGERIES CAN BE AWAKE PROCEDURES?

Almost all plastic or cosmetic procedures are compatible as awake procedures. In most cases, you get to decide as the patient which way to go about your treatment. Below are some of the most popular procedures that can be comfortably done as awake procedures.

AWAKE LIPOSUCTION

Liposuction is a popular cosmetic procedure that targets specific pockets of fat in the body and removes them, helping individuals achieve a more sculpted and toned appearance. Despite regular exercise and a healthy diet, some people struggle to eliminate stubborn fat deposits that can be resistant to traditional weight loss methods. Liposuction serves as an effective solution to address these problem areas and enhance the overall aesthetic of the body.

During a liposuction procedure, a plastic surgeon will use a specialized surgical tool called a cannula to suction out excess fat cells from targeted areas of the body. Common treatment areas include the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, arms, and neck. By directly targeting and removing these fat deposits, patients can achieve a more contoured silhouette and improved body proportions.

One of the key benefits of liposuction is that it can be performed under local anesthesia or light intravenous sedation, allowing patients to remain awake and relaxed throughout the surgery. This minimizes the risks associated with general anesthesia and typically results in a faster recovery time. When liposuction is performed using local anesthesia, it is referred to as tumescent liposuction.

It is important to note that liposuction is not a weight loss solution or a substitute for healthy lifestyle habits. Instead, it is best suited for individuals who are at or near their ideal body weight but have specific areas of localized fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. Prior to undergoing liposuction, patients should be in good overall health and have realistic expectations about the results of the procedure.

Overall, liposuction is a versatile and effective cosmetic procedure that can help individuals achieve their aesthetic goals by targeting and removing stubborn fat deposits. By working with a board-certified plastic surgeon and following post-operative care instructions, patients can enjoy long-lasting results and improved body confidence.

AWAKE BREAST AUGMENTATION

– Awake breast augmentation allows for a quicker recovery time compared to traditional surgery under general anesthesia
– The procedure can be customized to fit your specific needs and desired results
– Breast augmentation can help improve self-esteem and body image
– The surgery can be done in a safe and controlled environment with a skilled plastic surgeon
– The results of breast augmentation can be long-lasting and provide a more balanced and proportionate figure.

AWAKE TUMMY TUCK

Plastic surgery has become increasingly popular in recent years, with a variety of procedures available to help individuals achieve their desired look. One of the most sought-after surgeries is a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty. This procedure is designed to smooth and tone the midsection by removing excess fat and tightening the muscles in the abdominal area. The result is a sleeker figure that can instill self-confidence in the individual.

During a tummy tuck procedure, a plastic surgeon will make an incision along the lower abdomen, typically from hip to hip. This incision allows the surgeon to access the underlying abdominal muscles and tissues. The surgeon will then remove any excess fat and skin from the area before tightening the abdominal muscles. This tightening of the muscles helps to create a firmer and more toned appearance in the midsection.

One of the main benefits of a tummy tuck is the removal of stubborn fat that is resistant to diet and exercise. This can be especially beneficial for individuals who have undergone significant weight loss and are left with excess skin and fat in the abdominal area. Additionally, tightening the abdominal muscles can help improve core strength and posture, leading to better overall physical health.

The recovery process for a tummy tuck can vary depending on the individual and the extent of the surgery. Most patients can expect some swelling and discomfort in the days following the procedure, but this typically subsides with time. It is important for patients to follow their surgeon’s post-operative instructions to ensure a smooth recovery process.

Overall, a tummy tuck can be a life-changing procedure for individuals looking to improve the appearance of their midsection. By removing excess fat and tightening the abdominal muscles, this surgery can help individuals achieve a sleeker and more toned figure. If you are considering a tummy tuck, be sure to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options and determine if this procedure is right for you.

OTHER AWAKE PROCEDURES

We also offer tumescent:

• Fat transfer (to buttocks, breast,s hands, face)
• Scar revision
• Mini tummy tuck
• Arm lift
• Thigh lift
• Breast lift
• Breast augmentation with implants

We offer a range of procedures at Gabbay Plastic Surgery for the body, breasts, and face. Nearly all of these can be done as awake procedures, so do not hesitate to ask about any of them. During your consultation, you can learn more about what options are available and which may be best for you. And all our non-surgical options are available as awake procedures that are both convenient and comfortable.

Breast augmentation – why cost shouldn’t be the first question you ask

One of the most common questions regarding breast augmentation is “how much does it cost?” When you are looking to make a costly purchase of any kind, the cost is certainly an important factor to consider, but when your health and medical results are at stake, it shouldn’t be the only one. In fact, it should be far down the list, below patient safety and the quality of the results. Cheap surgery can end up being the most expensive procedure of all.

Patient safety

Breast augmentation is real surgery, and although the complication rates are low, they are much higher in the hands of someone who isn’t well-trained or who cuts corners by operating in an unaccredited facility. The most extreme is to get bargain surgery in another country without rigorous safety regulations.

Start by confirming that your surgeon is board-certified – not by just any board, but by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This indicates that the surgeon has gone through rigorous training, extensive examination and maintenance of expertise. This training takes years, and maintaining expertise requires time, so a cost-cutting shortcut is to skip all that training and testing and to just take a weekend course. To figure this out, simply look up the surgeon you are considering on the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) website. All members of ASPS are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and are in good standing.

Where your surgery is performed is as important is who is performing the surgery. Confirm that your surgeon operates in an accredited operating room. Qualified accrediting/certifying agencies include AAAASF, AAAHC, IMQ, Medicare and the state your surgeon practices in. These agencies regularly check the facilities they accredit or certify for multiple safety features, including the physical facility, staffing, policies and procedures, emergency protocols and much more. Safety is expensive, so a great way for a surgeon to be able to offer a lower price is to cut corners on patient safety.

Local vs general anesthesia?

One way to cut corners is to operate in a facility that is not designed for general anesthesia. The cost-cutters play into patients’ fears by advertising “safe” local anesthesia to avoid the dangers of general anesthesia. All plastic surgeons have the capability to perform breast augmentation under either local anesthesia or general anesthesia. For most patients, the safest option is general anesthesia, which gives you a protected airway. Heavy sedation can slow your breathing down. It is difficult to put an implant under the muscle in an awake patient (you can’t numb the muscle), and pain results in high blood pressure, which can increase bleeding during the case.

If you choose a great plastic surgeon who prioritizes patient safety above all else, do you really think he or she would choose general anesthesia if local anesthesia were the safer choice?

What do other patients say?

Now that you’ve found a well-trained surgeon who doesn’t cut corners on safety, you still have more homework to do. How do you know if the surgeon is going to listen to your goals, if you’ll receive the care you deserve and how happy most patients are with their results? Although online reviews aren’t perfect, nonetheless it is nonetheless worthwhile to check them out. Keep in mind that negative reviews may be legitimate, but they might have been posted by a jealous competitor, a disgruntled former employee or a patient with problems that aren’t actually related to the surgery.

On the other hand, a string of raving five-star reviews might have been posted by the surgeon’s own office staff. Look for similar wording and sentence structure as a clue that one person posted multiple reviews.

If you find completely different review lengths and writing styles, the reviews are likely to be legitimate. In addition, if a surgeon has a score that’s high, but less than five, that is also a good sign that the reviews are legitimate. No one can truly please everyone.

What about the results?

Most plastic surgeons post before-and-after photos in a photo gallery on their website. When looking at the photos, look for consistency between the before photo and the after photo. The lighting, background, camera distance from the patient should all be close to the same. Look for a frontal view and a side view. If you see only a three-quarters view on all photos, there may be a reason; it is easier to hide surgical differences in the left and the right when the patient is partially rotated away from the camera.

Another thing to look at is the natural mismatch in breasts. No breasts are the same. If there are differences in the left and the right, is it because the patients’ breasts are different? Or is it because one implant was placed higher or lower than the other? If one breast is naturally larger than the other, did the surgeon improve that by using different sized implants?

If you choose a surgeon who isn’t expertly trained or doesn’t get great results, if you return for free or low-cost revision, do you think you’ll get the result you want? Probably not. If you go to an expert to revise your breast augmentation, the cost will likely be higher (sometimes significantly so) than the cost of an initial breast augmentation. It is usually much more difficult to fix a poorly done breast augmentation than it is to do the first augmentation right.

Contact the office

After you’ve winnowed down your selection to one or two plastic surgeons, you might want to fill out a contact form on the practice website; attentive, well-trained office staff should get back to you no later than the next business day. The office may offer a virtual consult, in which you can submit photos securely. This can be helpful if you have extreme asymmetry, breast droop or other factors.

When calling the office, note how the staff answers the phone. You may be transferred to a patient coordinator (PC), who should be well-trained to answer questions, including a range of fees. Not all breast augmentations are straight forward. Depending on the shape and tone of your breasts, it’s possible that the surgeon may recommend a lift on one or both sides or some other additional procedure. The PC will try to give you an idea of the range of costs so that you are prepared. Financing options are also something you can discuss with the PC.

Your consultation

Look at the big picture. Does the surgeon listen to you and discuss your goals? Do you feel confident that you would get the best care? Though a complication is unlikely, it can happen with any surgery. Is this the surgeon who would respond in the middle of the night or on a weekend?

Choosing your surgeon

Think into the future. If you go to the best surgeon, how are you going to feel? How likely is it you’ll achieve your goal? Now, imagine going to the cheapest surgeon. How would you feel if the results aren’t so great?

If you prioritize your safety, good results and quality of care above price, it’s likely you won’t choose the cheapest surgeon you find. But then if you do, chance are you’ll get what you pay for.

Breast Augmentation Without General Anesthesia

Can You Get A Breast Augmentation Without Anesthesia

– Local anaesthetic allows for the patient to be awake during the procedure, reducing the risks associated with general anesthesia
– General anesthesia can provide a more comfortable and pain-free experience for the patient
– Local anaesthetic may be preferred for patients with certain medical conditions that make general anesthesia more risky
– General anesthesia allows for the surgeon to have better control over the procedure and may be necessary for more complex surgeries.