Question:
What kind of anesthesia do you use during a tummy tuck procedure?
Answer:
Typically tummy tuck procedures are done under general anesthesia but very commonly in more than half the patients in our practice we perform the tummy tuck procedure under a twilight anesthesia. This would be the same anesthesia that you would have if you were having a colonoscopy. Essentially, an IV is started, the medication is given through the IV, the patient becomes very drowsy and falls asleep but is breathing on her own the entire time, no intubation is required. This is an excellent technique for an abdominoplasty since it improves significantly the postop recovery and is not associated with issues such as sore throat or nausea and vomiting
About the Author: Dr. Edwin Williams
Dr. Edwin Williams is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who founded The Williams Center in 1993. He has performed over 10,000 facial plastic surgery procedures and has pioneered the deep plane facelift. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery for over a decade, and served as President from 2015-2016. In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Dr. Williams earned the Castle Connelly Top Doctors award in New York Facial Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Edwin F. Williams III attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. He began medical school at the State University of Buffalo School of Medicine and received his Doctor of Medicine in 1986.
Dr. Williams is actively involved in teaching facial plastic and reconstruction surgery to the residents of the Albany Medical Center and is former Chief of the Section of Facial and Plastic Reconstruction Surgery at Albany Medical Center where he received an academic appointment of Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery.