What is the Best Form of Anesthesia (local or general) for Chin Implant Surgery?

When patients come into my Charlotte, North Carolina office, one of the most common questions I am asked has to do with the different forms of anesthesia that are used for particular procedures.

I value the comfort and safety of my patients.  Safety is always my number one priority. With this in mind, I believe that patients should be informed on all facets of the procedure that they choose to undergo. This includes the details of the anesthesia they will receive.

In this blog, I will explain the different forms of anesthesia that are used at Carolina Facial Plastics, their anticipated experience, and which type of anesthesia is most effective when undergoing a chin implant.

What are the Types of Anesthesia Used and How are they Different?

Anesthesia is an induced temporary state in which patients experience relief of pain, prevention of pain, muscle relaxation, or unconsciousness. Anesthesia is induced during surgical procedures so that patients can undergo procedures that would be painful when fully awake and conscious. There are three broad categories of anesthesia that we use here in Charlotte depending on the severity of the procedure.

• Local Anesthesia- Local anesthesia is used for minor procedures when only a small part of the face needs to be numbed. Local anesthetics temporarily block nerve pathways in the area that it is applied, which causes a numbing sensation and a temporary loss of feeling in the area. The patient will remain completely awake during a procedure that involves only local anesthesia. Local anesthesia can be applied in the office, surgery center, or hospital.

• Regional Anesthesia- Regional anesthesia has the same effects of local anesthesia, but on a larger scale. There are two different ways that regional anesthesia may be administered. Peripheral anesthesia is when an anesthetic is used to block pain in a certain area such as the face, arms, hands, legs, or feet. The second is an epidural or spinal anesthesia where an anesthetic is injected near the spinal cord to block pain from a region of the body such as the hips or belly. This is not used at Carolina Facial Plastics or during a chin implant.

• General Anesthesia- While under the effects of general anesthesia, patients are unconscious and do not feel any pain during the procedure. General anesthetic is most commonly given by an IV or inhaled through a mask in a gas form. There are times when both are given together.  An anesthesiologist or CRNA at a surgery center or hospital provides general anesthesia.

What Can You Expect when Undergoing General Anesthesia?

For any procedure that requires the use of anything more than a local anesthetic it is important to understand what to expect before the anesthetic is applied.

Before a procedure, you will meet with an anesthesiologist who will go over your medical history thoroughly to ensure that they make the right choice in anesthetic for you. After a verbal and physical assessment the anesthesiologist may order more tests for you to undergo to more thoroughly asses your physical condition.

It is important to note the directions given to you about eating and drinking in the days leading up to your procedure. Most of the time, it is extremely important to not eat the night before a procedure that includes general anesthesia.

Every patient’s body reacts differently to an anesthetic wearing off. In the case of local and regional anesthetics, the area affected will slowly regain feeling in the time after the procedure.  It typically takes 1-3 hours for local anesthesia to wear off.

We take many steps to ensure patients have a good experience when undergoing general anesthesia.  For facial plastic surgery procedures, patients do not need heavy general anesthesia.  For this reason, they will typically recover faster from general anesthesia.  Some patients may experience nausea after general anesthesia.  We give patients multiple medications to prevent nausea.  The majority of our patients do not experience nausea after general anesthesia.

When waking up from general anesthesia patients are taken to a post operation area where they can slowly wake up and begin to acclimate to their surroundings. It is not unusual for patients who have received a general anesthetic to wake feeling groggy or any other array of emotions. These feelings usually dissipate quickly as the anesthetic wears off.

What Type of Anesthesia is Best for Chin Related Procedures? 

With all of our procedures performed at our office in Charlotte the type of anesthesia used depends on the procedure and concerns of the patient. The type of anesthetic used also depends on your past and current health. At Carolina Facial Plastics the two most commonly performed procedures on the chin area are chin implants and non-surgical chin augmentation.

If a patient choses to undergo a chin implant then the most common technique involves local anesthesia. This ensures that the patient is comfortable and free of pain as the implant is inserted and positioned to achieve the desired look.  If a patient would prefer to have general anesthesia, it can be provided during a chin implant.

Non-surgical chin augmentations only require a local anesthetic. Here at Carolina Facial Plastics the most common form of non-surgical chin augmentation involves injecting products such as Restylane and Perlane or collagen simulators such as Sculptra to improve the chin’s shape and appearance.

How Do I Schedule a Consultation for Chin Surgery Options?

If you would like more information regarding chin surgery in Charlotte, please call (704) 842-3644 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with board certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Kulbersh.