Can I Have Arm Liposuction Under A General Anesthetic?

Can I Have Arm Liposuction Under A General Anesthetic?

Some women undergoing arm liposuction wonder whether they can have their surgeries under a general anesthetic. It may appear that having a general anesthetic is less frightening than undergoing surgery under a local anesthetic. After all, you would be asleep throughout the procedure and entirely unaware. There would be no risk of experiencing any pain or discomfort, and you won’t be so anxious. However, this isn’t necessarily the case.

General anesthesia used to be the only option when having any type of liposuction. But, today, techniques have dramatically improved. Now, using local anesthesia is the most common way to perform lipo surgeries. Most importantly, it’s also the safest way to perform these procedures.

What Is A General Anesthetic?

A general anesthetic makes the patient unconscious when a surgeon performs a procedure. This means the patient has no awareness of anything occurring during the procedure. This type of anesthetic involves the patient’s muscles relaxing. The surgeon will also use machinery to control body fluids and respiration. Following a general anesthetic, the patient requires close monitoring to make sure there are no complications.

What Is A Local Anesthetic?

A local anesthetic involves only anesthetizing the area of the body on which the surgeon is performing the procedure. As a result, the patient remains awake and conscious throughout the surgery. Only the anesthetized part of the body goes numb. At one time, local anesthesia was only suitable for small areas of liposuction. Today, though, the latest techniques allow surgeons to treat larger areas under a local anesthetic.

Why Is Local Anesthetic A Better Choice for Liposuction?

Although the idea of being awake for your arm lipo may be worrying, it’s a far better option. For a start, since you’ll be awake, there’ll be no need to monitor your blood circulation or respiration externally. This makes the procedure far safer. There’s also a lower risk of complications associated with lipo under a local anesthetic. The risks of blood clots, fluid imbalances, and respiratory infections are lower.

You’ll find that local anesthesia allows you to be more comfortable before and after your surgery, too. There’s no need to avoid eating before surgery, and you’ll be able to walk out of the operating room afterward. You won’t need long-term monitoring after surgery and will be able to go home the same day. The recovery period is also shorter than it would be after a general anesthetic. You’ll be up and about before you know it.

Also, as you’ll be awake during surgery, you’ll be able to be an active participant. Your surgeon will be able to ask you to move, change positions, and tense your muscles during the procedure. This allows for an easier assessment of the amount of fat removed and the effect achieved. It also allows the surgeon to achieve a far better result. Sitting upright or standing during your procedure will allow the surgeon to see the effect gravity has on the fat. It also enables the surgeon to remove more fat and achieve a more sculpted effect. With the muscle tensed, the surgeon can sculpt the fat very close to the muscle. This enables the surgeon to achieve the Celebrity Arms look.

Is There Any Disadvantage of Having A Local Anesthetic For Liposuction?

There is only one disadvantage of having a local anesthetic for liposuction: It limits the surgery that a surgeon can perform at once. However, if you’re only planning to have lipo on your arms, this won’t be a problem. As the surgeon is only treating a specific area, a local anesthetic will be perfectly suitable.

Is Lipo Under A Local Anesthetic Painful?

The main reason why patients say they’d rather have lipo under a general anesthetic is because they’re worried about pain. However, there’s no need to worry about discomfort. The local anesthetic used is very effective. All you’ll feel is the sensation of the treated area swelling up during the administration of the anesthetic. Once the anesthetic starts to work, you’ll experience no pain at all as the surgeon sucks out the fat.

Will the Surgeon Properly Carry Out My Procedure if I’m Under A Local Anesthetic?

Some people worry that only a general anesthetic will allow a surgeon to perform a liposuction procedure properly. In the past, this was the case. Surgeons needed to take an aggressive approach to fat removal, which meant a general anesthetic was preferable. Today, though, you can rest assured that you’ll enjoy excellent results after lipo under a local anesthetic. In fact, the results achieved will be far better in many cases.

Here at Artlipo, Dr. Su’s active liposuction technique relies on the patient having a local anesthetic. Asking the patient to move and tense her muscles is how he achieves such an impressive outcome. Contact our team today, and arrange your arm liposuction consultation now.