Facelift under local anesthesia Charlotte NC

Many people are concerned about the effects of facial aging, and would be interested in having a facelift. However, for some, just the idea of having general anesthesia is enough to make them pause. Some may fear that they’ll have a bad reaction to the anesthetic, while for others, they just don’t want the downtime and discomfort of general anesthesia.

Fortunately, if you’re one of those who would prefer to avoid general anesthesia, a facelift may still be an option for you. It’s possible to have a facelift using only local anesthesia. This office-based procedure allows you to return to your daily life more quickly, and avoids the discomfort that some people feel after having a general anesthetic.

What type of anesthetic is used?

The local anesthesia that’s used in these procedures is actually nothing new or unusual. It consists of a medication called lidocaine, which is similar to the (outdated) drug known as Novocaine, and which is widely used in dentistry as well as surgery. Lidocaine works by blocking nerve signals, so when it’s injected into an area, it produces complete numbness for a period of time (usually about two hours). Lidocaine is infused into the tissues in a solution of sterile saline (salt water), along with a small amount of epinephrine, which causes blood vessels to constrict and therefore reduces bleeding during the procedure.

It’s possible for a patient to remain wide awake, using only the local anesthetic, during the procedure. However, in some cases, it’s preferable for the patient also to be given a sedative (a medication in the same class as Valium), in order to help them relax and fall asleep during the procedure. This medication won’t always put the patient completely to sleep, and it wears off fairly quickly afterward. However, it does help the patient to feel relaxed and a bit drowsy.

What types of facelift can be accomplished in this way?

Dr. Miles has performed many different facial procedures under local anesthesia, including:

• Full facelift
• Lower facelift
• Upper and lower eyelid surgery
• Brow lift
• Neck contouring
• Liposuction around the face and/or neck

Who is a candidate?

Most patients who are candidates for a facelift under general anesthesia are also eligible to have a facelift under local anesthesia. In fact, because local anesthesia is actually even safer than general, there may be more people who can have a facelift under local than under general anesthesia. This doesn’t mean that local is preferred for every type of surgery; some procedures are too extensive or involve deeper structures in the body, and local cannot provide adequate pain control for these. However, for a facelift, local anesthesia is almost always an option.

However, those who already take certain types of medication for anxiety may not be able to undergo sedation, because it uses a very similar medication. These patients can proceed with local anesthesia all on its own, or sometimes along with a smaller dose of sedative. Your doctor will advise you on the best way for you to proceed.

What are the advantages of having a facelift under local anesthesia?

For most patients, the reason to choose to have their facelift procedure under local anesthesia rather than general anesthesia is that the recovery is quicker. Although general anesthesia is very safe for most people, it does take some time to recover from the effects of this. With local anesthesia, you’ll be back to feeling like yourself much more quickly.

If you are given a sedative during your facelift, then you most likely won’t remember the procedure. While it’s happening, you’ll likely be awake, although you’ll feel very relaxed. However, because the sedative medication blocks the formation of memories, you won’t remember it later. Many patients appreciate this, as they would prefer to enjoy their results without remembering the procedure itself. However, if you don’t receive a sedative, then you will remember the experience while still having no pain.

In general, a facelift under local anesthesia will also cost less than having the procedure under general anesthesia. The procedure can be done in the office, which avoids the usual operating room fees. If you’re using only local anesthesia, then you won’t need to pay the added expense of an anesthesiologist. If sedative medication is being used, then an anesthesiologist will still be needed to ensure your safety, but this is a much less complicated and therefore less expensive procedure than having general anesthesia. For all of these reasons, a facelift under local anesthesia is usually less expensive than one under general anesthesia.

Are there any disadvantages to this procedure?

Some patients prefer general anesthesia, because they feel anxious about the idea of being awake during their procedure. Even with sedation, some patients simply feel more comfortable knowing that they’ll be completely unconscious and unable to feel any type of sensation or make any involuntary movements throughout their surgery. This is a valid choice, and general anesthesia is very safe for most people, so if you feel more comfortable with general anesthesia, then that’s certainly an option.

For extensive procedures, or those in which deeper work may be needed, then local anesthesia may not be enough to provide adequate pain control. This is rare for a facelift; it more often applies to other types of plastic surgery, like a tummy tuck.

Learn more about having a facelift under local anesthesia Charlotte NC

If you’re considering having a facelift under local anesthesia Charlotte or the surrounding area, please visit Dr. Erik Miles to learn more about your options. By learning your medical history and hearing about your goals and priorities, he can tell you more about your options and whether a facelift under local anesthesia might work for you. Please contact our office to schedule an appointment.