As you become more serious about cosmetic surgery, you should learn about the different kinds of anesthesia:
General anesthesia: The anesthesiologist administers a concoction of medications intravenously (through a vein) that renders you “asleep.” While you are unconscious, you will be placed on a breathing machine since those same medications will affect the respiratory center in your brain for the duration of time that they remain in your system. The anesthesiologist (or, CNA) will carefully monitor your heart and lungs while your surgeon performs the procedure. After the procedure, you will be observed in a recovery area with the possibility of being discharged later that same day or the following day, assuming everything goes well.
Conscious sedation: The anesthesiologist administers a concoction of medications intravenously that alters your senses. You will be awake and will be breathing without any assistance, but your abilities to perceive your surroundings will be lessened. Conscious sedation is synonymous with the term twilight anesthesia. Local anesthetics are almost always used in concert with conscious sedation. After the procedure, you will be observed in a recovery area until your body eliminates the sedatives and you are cleared to leave.
Local anesthesia: Similar to the medications used by your dentist, local anesthetics render the area into which they are injected comfortably numb. Initial administration may be associated with a burning sensation. If you have been consciously sedated, your surgeon is very likely using local anesthesia as well. Local anesthesia has another desired effect during surgery: “vasoconstriction,” which simply means that the capillaries clamp down. This allows for less bleeding as incisions are made. Because of this effect, the surgeon may desire to use local anesthetics while general anesthesia is being administered.
Next: What kind of training did your anesthesiologist or CRNA have? What's a CRNA?
