General Anesthesia Comparison

Dr. Rhoda Narins specializes in tumescent liposuction in her New York City practice. It's important to understand the advantages of having the procedure performed without general anesthesia.

Liposuction Using General Anesthesia


Fat is suctioned through a stainless steel tube about 1/4 inch in diameter or larger.

Liposuction Using the Tumescent Technique


Fatty tissue is infiltrated with large volumes of dilute local anesthesia. Tissue becomes swollen and firm, allowing more accurate extraction of fat. The special anesthetic solution causes vasoconstriction (temporary shrinkage) of blood vessels, so there is minimal bleeding and virtually no post-op pain. Tiny cannulas or tubes are used and recovery is rapid. Patients can return to non-jarring exercise immediately and go about their business in 1-3 days!

The following table compares the two techniques:

	Liposuction by General Anesthesia	Liposuction by the Tumescent Technique
During surgery	Patient is usually jostled about due to usage of larger suction instruments, and need to move unconscious patient during surgery.	Patient is comfortable and awake, usually conversing with the doctor and nurses; use of specially designed small cannula permits a more gentle surgery with, smaller incisions. Patient can easily move into the exact position necessary for the maximum result.
Cosmetic results	May produce dimples if fat is removed too close to skin.	Swelling and firmness of fatty tissues minimizes the risk of post-operative irregularities of the skin as does the use of smaller cannulas. "Liposculpture."
Blood loss	Potentially serious blood loss.	Virtually no blood loss. Blood loss is minimized due to vasoconstriction of blood vessels through the use of epinephrine in local anesthesia; less than 1 tablespoon of blood loss for every liter of fat removed.
Bruising	Usually significant, lasting for 3 to 6 weeks.	Swelling and firmness of fatty tissues permits removal of fat with minimal bruising which lasts only 7 to 14 days.
Post-operative soreness	Anesthetic effects of general anesthesia wear off in minutes after surgery. There may be significant discomfort and pain requiring narcotic analgesics.	Local anesthesia does not wear off for 12-30 hours; thereafter, many of our patients describe their soreness as being similar to what they feel the day after having exercised very vigorously.
Side effects/Post-op	Often patients experience nausea, drowsiness, headaches, vomiting which may persist for days.	Virtually no pain or discomfort. Localized numbness for many hours.
Elastic support garment	Usually required for 4-6 weeks.	Required for 1-3 weeks, with brief removal on a daily basis for showering.
Returning to work	1-2 weeks	1-2 days after surgery
Light exercise	3-4 weeks	1-2 days
Vigorous exercise	1-3 months	2-3 weeks
Medications	Pain Medication Needed	Plain or extra-strength Tylenol sufficient but not usually needed.
Infection	Increased risk of infection	Lidocaine & bicarbonate chloride both reportedly decrease bacterial germs and I have never seen an infection.
Safety	Decreased safety	Minimal chance of pulmonary embolus as patient is awake and moving.

Treatment from a Liposuction Pioneer

Dr. Narins is truly a liposuction pioneer. She is one of the first doctors who brought liposuction to the United States in the early 1980s, and she personally trained with the doctors who invented this procedure. She remains current in the latest techniques and technologies by teaching liposuction to other dermatologic and cosmetic surgeons, lecturing on the topic across the US and abroad, and publishing books and articles on liposuction. She is a member of the Tumescent Liposuction Council and the Liposuction Task Force for the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Dermatologic Surgery who wrote the guidelines for liposuction.

Getting Started

In addition to liposuction surgery, women and men from New York City visit dermatologic cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rhoda Narins for wrinkle treatments and laser skin treatments. Call (212) 288-9910 (Manhattan) or (914) 684-1000 (White Plains) to schedule an appointment and learn more.