Conscious Sedation
Like all surgical procedures, tumescent liposuction can be uncomfortable. But, it does not have to be!!! In fact, no one need be in any discomfort whatsoever during liposuction. Conscious sedation is a form of anesthesia that is usually administered through the veins through an "I.V." To put it simply, conscious sedation simply means "sleeping consciousness" or sleeping lightly.
Like liposuction, not all forms of conscious sedation are the same. Several medications may be used for conscious sedation, which have different levels of sedative (sleepiness) effect-some make one sleep more deeply (and feel less) and some more lightly.
Most DERMATOLOGISTS perform "pure" tumescent anesthesia-without the use of conscious sedation. Most discomfort felt during tumescent liposuction is when the solution is injected into the areas to be treated. With "pure" tumescent liposuction (without conscious sedation), patients always complain of some discomfort during injection. Depending on the number of areas treated, this discomfort can last 30 minutes!!! Using conscious sedation one need feel NO discomfort or pain!
Who performs conscious sedation? Most commonly an anesthesiologist OR a nurse-anesthetist (CRNA) administers conscious sedation-injects the medications through the I.V. and monitors the patient. This of course is optimal as the surgeon can concentrate on the liposuction and an adequately trained professional monitor the patient. Some surgeons administer the conscious sedation themselves WITHOUT the use of an anesthesiologist or nurse-anesthetist. MOST surgeons have little or no training with conscious sedation (except mild sedative agents). Therefore, some state medical boards have outlawed this practice due to safety concerns for the patient.
In general anesthesia, one is "put to sleep". This requires a breathing tube (intubation). This method of anesthesia is often used in the hospital and is often used by plastic surgeons. For shorter procedures, many anesthesiologists believe that is safer to have conscious sedation than general anesthesia.
Others may be given an oral medication to make them a little sleepy, help them relax, and reduce discomfort. For many patients, this is all that is necessary.
