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What to Expect from Anesthesia on Your Surgery Day
Nervous about anesthesia? AIPS anesthesia provider April King walks you through what to expect before, during, and after your plastic surgery.
Nervous about anesthesia? AIPS anesthesia provider April King walks you through what to expect before, during, and after your plastic surgery.
Hi, I’m April King, and I’m part of the anesthesia team here at AIPS. If you’re watching this video, you’re probably getting ready for plastic surgery, and you may have some questions or even some anxiety about anesthesia. That’s completely normal.
I want to take you through exactly what you can expect, from the time you arrive to going to sleep, what happens while you’re asleep, and what it’s like when you wake up. My goal is for you to arrive on surgery day and find nothing about the anesthesia process unfamiliar.
Before Surgery
Before your surgery, you’ll meet with your anesthesia provider. This is an important part of your care, not just a formality. We’ll review your medical history, medications and supplements, allergies, previous experiences with anesthesia, and anything that could affect your anesthesia or your recovery. We’ll also talk with you about your specific procedure and create an anesthesia plan tailored to you. We’ll go over possible risks and complications and answer any questions you have.
This is the perfect time to tell us if you’ve ever had nausea or difficulty with anesthesia, or if you experience motion sickness, gastric reflux, sleep apnea, or anything else you’re concerned about. Please tell your anesthesia team about all medications, hormones, weight loss drugs, vitamins, herbs, and supplements you’re taking.
In the Pre-Op Area and Operating Room
Once your surgeon has completed your surgical markings, your anesthesia provider will give you medications to help you relax and prevent infection. After that, we’ll take you to the operating room and connect you to several monitors. You may see a blood pressure cuff, small stickers on your chest to monitor your heart, and a small sensor on your finger that measures your oxygen level. These monitors let us continually watch what’s happening in your body while you’re asleep.
You’re never simply put to sleep and left alone. Your anesthesia provider is with you the entire time, managing your anesthesia throughout the procedure.
Going to Sleep
Now let’s talk about the part many patients are most nervous about: going to sleep. We’ll give you medication through your IV and oxygen through a mask. You’ll begin to feel relaxed and sleepy, and most patients say it happens very quickly. You won’t have to fight to fall asleep. The medications do the work for you.
Once you’re asleep, your anesthesia provider continues to manage your breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen level, temperature, pain control, and depth of anesthesia throughout the procedure.
About the Breathing Tube
You may also be wondering about the breathing tube. During general anesthesia, the medications that keep you asleep also relax the muscles that normally help you breathe. Because of that, depending on your procedure and your anesthesia plan, we may use a breathing device or breathing tube to support your breathing while you’re asleep. You won’t feel it being placed because you’re already asleep, and it’s removed before you’re fully awake or as you’re waking up, depending on what’s safest for you.
Occasionally, you may notice a mild sore throat afterward. If that happens, it usually resolves quickly. Having cough drops or lozenges at home is helpful, but avoid anything acidic, like orange juice.
During Surgery
While you’re asleep, your anesthesia provider is continually monitoring your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, breathing, carbon dioxide levels, and other important measurements. We’re also adjusting medications based on what your body is telling us. Anesthesia isn’t a “set it and forget it” process. It’s an active process that continues from the beginning of your surgery until you’re safely awake and recovering.
Another important part of anesthesia is making your recovery as comfortable as possible. We don’t wait until you’re hurting to think about your pain. Throughout your surgery, we use a combination of medications and techniques designed to prevent and treat pain. We also consider your risk of nausea and vomiting. If you’ve had nausea with anesthesia before, please tell us. That information allows us to plan ahead.
Waking Up
When your surgery is finished, we gradually reduce and stop the anesthesia medications. You won’t suddenly be wide awake. You’ll become more alert over time, and you’ll be moved to your recovery area, where your nurses will continue to monitor you.
You may feel sleepy or a little groggy for a few minutes. You may feel cold or have some shaking, or have a dry or slightly sore throat. All of these can happen as your body transitions out of anesthesia, and we’ll be there to help you through it.
Going Home
Once you’re awake and comfortable, your vital signs are stable, and you’ve met all of our discharge criteria, you’ll be able to go home with your designated adult caregiver. Plan to rest for the remainder of the day. You should not drive, make important decisions, drink alcohol, or do activities that require good judgment until you’ve recovered from the effects of anesthesia and followed your surgical team’s instructions. You’ll receive specific instructions from your surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia team before you leave.
You’re Not Alone
If you’re feeling nervous about anesthesia, you’re not alone. Our job isn’t simply to put you to sleep. Our job is to take care of you before, during, and after surgery, keeping you safe, comfortable, and supported throughout the entire experience. We want you to feel comfortable asking questions, and there are no silly questions when it comes to anesthesia.
We look forward to taking care of you, and we’ll see you on your day of surgery.