Tip Chapter: Anesthesia in Cosmetic Procedures

Abstract

Minimally invasive skin procedures are commonplace. However, even though these procedures are not large plastics cases, they can cause discomfort and anxiety in patients. Anesthesia for these cases can be divided into non-invasive and invasive types of anesthesia. Noninvasive anesthesia is generally considered to be topical and allows for superficial procedures. Of course, this does not often minimize anxiety in patients and intravenous medications may be necessary from that perspective. Invasive anesthesia methods are usually injected forms of anesthesia and include intravenous sedation, infiltrative and nerve blocks, and, in extreme cases, general anesthesia. The type of procedure and patient selection are keys to deciding which type of anesthesia is needed. Given that the majority of these forms of anesthesia include the use of local anesthetics, the maximum allowable doses of local anesthetics and their possible risks and complications must be known by all proceduralists utilizing these drugs. Invasive methods of anesthesia may also require other staff members including nursing, anesthesiology providers, and recovery staff.