There are several different types of Anesthesia that can be used, which is why it’s important to know what procedure each is best for, and who can administer it.
Your Doctor
For procedures that only need topical, oral, or local anesthesia, like fillers and nonablative laser treatments, your doctor can administer your anesthesia or write you a prescription for anesthetic medicine.
An Anesthesiologist
An Anesthesiologist is a doctor who has specialized training to administer all types of anesthesia.
An Anesthesiologist Physician’s Assistant
An assistant to an anesthesiologist, this person can administer anesthesia only when supervised by a board-certiffied anesthesiologist.
The Four Types of Anesthesia:
Depending on the procedure you’ve selected, your Anesthesia options vary and include:
1) Local Anesthesia (a.k.a. topical or injectable anesthesia)
Used in: Dental procedures, skin treatments like fillers and nonablative lasers
How it works: Cream is applied or anesthesia is injected to the area that will be treated, which will numb only that area. Numbness occurs in minutes with injections ; topicals can take about 20 minutes.
Potential Side Effects: Some irritation or dryness with creams ; swelling with injections
2) Local Anesthesia with IV or Oral Sedation (a.k.a twilight or conscious sedation)
USed in: Liposuction , eyelid surgery , Rhinoplasty
How it works: Local anesthesia is administered with either an injection or topically; a nerve block is injected or sedative medication (like Valium) is given through an IV or orally.
Potential side effects: When you wake, you may feel groggy, dopey or nauseous.
3) Regional Anesthesia
Use in: Large areas like the arms and legs, and child birth
How it works: Anesthesia is injected into a large part of the body , like the spine, to block a group of nerves so that pain cannot reach the brain.
Potential side effects: You may not be to move normally until the anesthesia has completely worn off.
4) General anesthesia
Used in: Surgery , both for the face and body
How it works: This type of anesthesia is usually administered via inhalation (sometimes a breathing tube is used to control breathing) so that a temporary loss of consciousness inhibits pain.
Potential side effects: You’ll wake feeling like you were in a deep sleep.our throat may be irritated and you may feel shaky, jittery or nauseou. Your skin may feel dry and itchy.