One of the questions we hear most often from prospective patients in our Columbia, MD practice is what kind of anesthesia they will be under during their procedure. This is an important question, as anesthesia plays a big role in both safety and recovery. For many of our breast surgery and tummy tuck patients, and for appropriate candidates for a mommy makeover, we prefer twilight anesthesia, also called sedation anesthesia, over general anesthesia whenever it is a safe and suitable option.
What Is Twilight Anesthesia?
Twilight anesthesia keeps you in a relaxed, sleep-like state while you continue breathing on your own, rather than placing you in the fully unconscious state that general anesthesia requires with a breathing tube. You will not feel or remember the procedure, but your body is not put through the same level of stress. We administer it right in our AAAASF-accredited (American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities) in-office surgery center, which meets rigorous standards for surgical equipment, operating room practices, staff training and surgeon credentials.
Why We Choose Twilight Anesthesia for Breast Surgery
For breast augmentation and many other breast procedures, sedation anesthesia lowers the risks that come with general anesthesia and significantly cuts down on postoperative nausea and grogginess. Patients tend to wake up more clearheaded, get through their post-op checkup more comfortably and start feeling like themselves again sooner.
Why We Choose Twilight Anesthesia for Tummy Tucks
A tummy tuck is a more involved procedure, but twilight anesthesia is still often the better fit for eligible patients. Because you are breathing on your own rather than relying on a ventilator, your body has less to recover from once surgery is complete, which can mean an easier first day at home and a smoother start to a recovery that already includes light walking, a compression garment and a gradual return to normal activity.
What About Mommy Makeovers?
A mommy makeover typically combines breast surgery, a tummy tuck and liposuction into a single operation, so the anesthesia plan is tailored to each patient and surgical case. Many of the individual components can be performed comfortably under twilight sedation, and we walk you through what is right for your specific combination of procedures, health history and surgery length during your consultation. In some cases, particularly longer combined surgeries, general anesthesia may be the safer choice, and we will always be upfront with you about that prior to your procedure.
Schedule Your Consultation
Choosing an anesthesia approach is not about doing less, it is about doing what is right for your body and your procedure. If you are considering a mommy makeover, breast surgery or a tummy tuck and want to know more about your anesthesia options and whether or not twilight anesthesia could be a good fit for you, we would be happy to walk you through your options.
Contact us online or call our Columbia, MD office at 410-740-9330 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Chang or Dr. Wang today.
Author: Dr. Eric Chang
Few plastic surgeons offer Dr. Eric Chang’s rare blend of impressive credentials and genuine compassion. After becoming a board-certified plastic surgeon, he returned to his home state and established Columbia Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, one of the premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery practices between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
