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Anaesthesia Care for Plastic Surgery: Your Guide to a Safe and Comfortable Experience

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Welcome! This leaflet provides essential information about anaesthesia care for plastic surgery procedures. Our team is dedicated to ensuring your safety and comfort throughout your journey.

Understanding Your Anaesthesia Plan

Plastic surgery procedures range from minor office-based treatments to complex reconstructive operations. Your anaesthesia plan is carefully tailored to your specific procedure, health status, and preferences.

Types of Anaesthesia Offered

  • Local Anaesthesia: Numbing medication injected directly into the surgical area, allowing you to remain awake and alert with minimal pain. Suitable for minor procedures like small lesion removal, scar revision, Botox/filler injections, and small skin grafts.
  • Local Anaesthesia with Sedation: Local numbing combined with intravenous (IV) medications to induce relaxation and drowsiness while maintaining the ability to respond to instructions. Commonly used for facelifts, eyelid surgery, nose surgery (rhinoplasty), liposuction (small areas), and breast augmentation.
  • Regional Anaesthesia: Blocking sensation to a larger area of the body. Examples include:
    • Tumescent Anaesthesia: Large-volume local anaesthesia for liposuction.
    • Field Blocks: Numbing larger surgical areas.
    • Nerve Blocks: Targeting specific facial or body regions.
  • General Anaesthesia: Inducing a state of complete unconsciousness with breathing support. You will be completely asleep and unaware of the procedure. Typically used for large-volume liposuction, breast reductions, complex facial reconstruction, multiple combined procedures, extensive body contouring (tummy tucks, body lifts), and procedures lasting longer than 3-4 hours.

Procedure-Specific Considerations

  • Body Contouring (Liposuction, Body Lift): General anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation. May involve pain pumps or regional blocks for pain management. Fluid management and compression garments may be required.
  • Reconstructive Procedures (Cleft Lip/Palate Repair, Microsurgery/Free Flap Reconstruction, Scar Revision): General anaesthesia is common. Special airway management, temperature control, and intensive monitoring are crucial.
  • Breast Procedures (Augmentation, Reduction, Reconstruction, Lift/Mastopexy): Anaesthesia care varies, ranging from local anaesthesia with sedation to general anaesthesia.
  • Facial Procedures (Facelift, Neck lift, Rhinoplasty, Eyelid Surgery, Brow Lift): Options include general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation. Careful positioning and graduated awakening are important.

Before Your Surgery: Preparation is Key

  • Pre-operative Assessment: A thorough review of your medical history and a physical examination.
  • Pre-operative Testing: May include blood work, ECG, chest X-ray, or pregnancy test.
  • Lifestyle Modifications:
    • Stop smoking 4-6 weeks before surgery.
    • Adjust medications (e.g., stopping blood thinners 7-10 days before).
    • Discontinue hormonal medications as directed.
  • Skin Preparation: Follow specific skincare instructions, avoid sun exposure/tanning, and discontinue retinoids 1-2 weeks before surgery.
  • Hair Preparation: Clear hair from the surgical area for facial procedures.
  • Fasting Guidelines: Nothing after midnight the night before surgery; clear fluids only until 2 hours before surgery.
  • Transportation & Support: Arrange for someone to transport you home and provide post-operative care.
  • What to Wear/Bring: Loose-fitting, front-opening clothing; no jewellery or makeup; only pre-approved medications.

During Your Surgery

  • IV placement for medication delivery.
  • Monitoring of vital signs.
  • Gradual onset of sedation or sleep.
  • Airway management with a breathing tube (if applicable).
  • Careful positioning for the procedure.

After Your Surgery: Recovery and Pain Management

  • Recovery Room: Monitoring of vital signs, pain assessment and management, nausea prevention, and graduated return to consciousness.
  • Common Side Effects: Drowsiness, disorientation, mild nausea, sore throat, temporary memory gaps.
  • Discharge Criteria: Adequate pain control, ability to tolerate fluids, alertness, and availability of transportation.

Pain Management Approach

  • Multi-modal approach: long-acting injections, non-opioid medications, opioid medication (if needed), ice, compression, and elevation.
  • Specific techniques (e.g., pain pumps, nerve blocks) may be used depending on the procedure.
  • Management of potential side effects (e.g., nausea, constipation).