Avoiding Local Anesthesia for Breast Augmentation: Why Twilight Anesthesia is Preferred

At Colorado Plastic Surgery Center, we prioritize patient safety, comfort, and optimal outcomes. One critical decision in the process is the choice of anesthesia. While local anesthesia might seem appealing due to its minimal invasiveness, it is not ideal for breast augmentation procedures. Instead, we perform these surgeries under twilight anesthesia for several compelling reasons.

By opting for twilight anesthesia, we ensure that every breast augmentation surgery we perform meets the highest safety and patient care standards, providing peace of mind and excellent results for our clients. If you’re considering breast augmentation, trust that our approach will provide the most comfortable and practical experience possible.

Comprehensive Pain Management

Local anesthesia numbs a specific area of the body, which might seem sufficient for a localized procedure like breast augmentation. However, this method often fails to provide comprehensive pain management. Patients can still experience discomfort from the manipulation of tissues and the insertion of implants, which can lead to a stressful and painful experience. Twilight anesthesia, on the other hand, ensures the patient is fully sedated, eliminating any sensation of pain during the surgery.

Minimized Patient Anxiety

Undergoing surgery while awake can be highly anxiety-inducing. Even with sedation, the awareness of ongoing surgery can be distressing for many patients. Local anesthesia does not address this psychological aspect, potentially leading to increased stress and a less pleasant surgical experience. Twilight anesthesia alleviates this concern by allowing patients to sleep through the entire procedure, waking up only when it’s all over, significantly reducing preoperative anxiety.

Enhanced Surgical Precision and Efficiency

Performing breast augmentation under local anesthesia can limit the surgeon’s ability to work efficiently. Patients may move slightly or react to sensations, complicating the procedure and potentially affecting the outcome. Twilight anesthesia provides a stable, immobile surgical field, allowing the surgeon to focus entirely on the technical aspects of the operation without needing to accommodate patient reactions. This stability is crucial for achieving the best possible aesthetic results.

Local anesthesia carries its own set of risks, mainly when used for extensive procedures like breast augmentation. The amount of local anesthetic required to numb both breasts adequately can be substantial, increasing the risk of systemic toxicity. Furthermore, the stress of being awake can cause fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate, complicating the procedure. Twilight anesthesia, administered by a trained anesthesiologist, ensures better control over the patient’s vital signs, reducing the risk of complications.

Comprehensive Monitoring and Safety

Twilight anesthesia involves continuous monitoring of the patient’s vital signs by an anesthesiologist throughout the procedure. This level of monitoring is not typically required with local anesthesia, potentially leaving any adverse reactions undetected until they become severe. The vigilance of an anesthesiologist ensures that any issues are promptly addressed, enhancing overall patient safety.

While the idea of staying awake during surgery might seem appealing to some, the reality is that local anesthesia for breast augmentation is fraught with challenges and risks that make it less than ideal for most patients. At Colorado Plastic Surgery Center, we believe that the benefits of Twilight anesthesia—comprehensive pain management, minimized anxiety, enhanced surgical precision, reduced risk of complications, and continuous monitoring—far outweigh those of local anesthesia. Our priority is ensuring that our patients receive the safest and most comfortable experience possible and the best aesthetic outcomes.

Suzanne’s surgery was extremely successful, and her before-and-after photos are shown to the right. Her 371 CC Moderate Profile Silicone implants were placed while she was under twilight anesthesia.  She is very pleased with her result.

To view more before and after photos, please see our photo gallery.