ANESTHESIA FOR FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY

In most situations, I use twilight anesthesia supplemented by local anesthesia. Twilight anesthesia is a technique where medication is given intravenously to induce a state of light sleep. Local anesthesia is the use of "numbing medicine" much like the dentist uses for your teeth. Patients under twilight anesthesia can be awakened, but usually have no memory of the procedure or events. We prefer this technique for anesthetic surgery because we feel it is safer, offers a quicker recovery period with less nausea, and causes less bleeding and swelling at the operative site.

In some cases, such as young children and the very anxious, a general anesthetic may be recommended. This must be administered in a hospital or outpatient surgery center setting with an anesthesiologist in attendance.

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