How Safe Is Anesthesia?

General anesthesia is administered to patients before invasive surgical procedures to relieve discomfort and to temporarily relax their muscles while the surgeon operates. While many patients have no problem being treated with anesthesia, others are more fearful of it than they are of the actual surgery. At his state-of-the-art practice, Dr. Trenton Jones strives to ensure that each of his patients is comfortable with every aspect of their procedure.

If you’re feeling unsure about undergoing plastic surgery because of general anesthesia, we’ve provided the answers to some common questions below to help you learn about and become more comfortable with it.

What exactly is anesthesia, and what does it actually do to your body?

Anesthesia is delivered via inhalation or an intravenous solution, and it puts patients in a state of complete unconsciousness. Once the procedure is complete, patients wake up with no recollection of undergoing surgery.
The process of general anesthesia can be broken down into four stages:

Induction
Excitement
Surgical anesthesia
Waking

What factors affect the risk of a complication occurring with general anesthesia?

Many factors influence the risk of awareness or other complications occurring with general anesthesia, including body mass, age, diabetes, medications, and the type of surgery.

How will I feel after the surgery is complete and I come out of general anesthesia?

Since the anesthesia used during surgical procedures dehydrates the body, patients will have IV fluids administered immediately after surgery. Plenty of rest is also imperative over the next 24 to 48 hours because patients may also feel nauseated and disoriented.

Is there a possibility that I might wake up from general anesthesia during the procedure?

It is extremely unlikely that a patient will wake up during surgery. In fact, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, anesthetic awareness occurs in less than 2 out of every 1,000 cases.

If you’re considering plastic surgery or have more questions about general anesthesia, please call our Utah office at (801) 418-8172 or fill out our online contact form today. Dr. Trenton Jones is a board-certified plastic surgeon, and he and his experienced staff look forward to seeing you soon!