Types of Anaesthesia Used in Cosmetic Surgery
Local, sedation, regional and general — each with clear indications, chosen by the anaesthetist for the operation.
Local anaesthesia numbs a small area and is used for minor procedures like small scar revisions. Sedation adds a mild sleep-like state on top of local numbing and suits procedures such as eyelid surgery in selected patients. Regional anaesthesia numbs a larger area and is used for some hand and limb work.
General anaesthesia is used for the majority of aesthetic operations — rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, abdominoplasty and larger body-contouring cases. It is administered by a specialist anaesthetist and is very safe in fit, well-prepared patients.
The choice is not primarily about cost or preference; it is about the safest, most comfortable option for the specific operation you are having. The anaesthetist will discuss this with you at the pre-operative visit.
Educational content only. Results vary between individuals and all surgery carries risk. Every plan begins with an unhurried consultation and an examination — never a quote over the phone.