It’s possible to perform
breast augmentation utilizing either I.V. sedation or general anesthesia. Each
approach has advantages and disadvantages and both approaches have advocates.
It’s important that the anesthesia be administered by a
board certified anesthesiologist,
regardless of the type of anesthesia
utilized. This is an important point, because I.V. sedation is occasionally
administered without an anesthesiologist as a cost cutting maneuver. When this
happens, your surgeon is also your anesthesiologist.
I generally prefer general anesthesia for a variety of
reasons. I typically place implants beneath the muscle and feel that general
anesthesia makes the experience more comfortable for my patients. With newer
anesthetic agents, patients tend to recover quickly with less nausea and fewer
side effects.
It’s important to discuss these issues with your plastic
surgeon before proceeding with surgery. It’s important that both of you are comfortable
with the choice of anesthesia. In some cases, it might also be helpful to meet
with the anesthesiologist before proceeding.
