Anesthesia

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In 2004, 1.7 million surgical cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in the U.S., a decrease of two percent from the previous year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. More and more patients are choosing to benefit from the growing number of minimally invasive procedures that are now available, and the numbers reflect the growing demand. From 2003 to 2004, the number of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures increased seven percent to a high 7.5 million procedures in the U.S.

Growing Demand for Minimally Invasive Procedures 

Every year surgical procedures ranging from getting teeth pulled to cosmetic surgery take place requiring the use of anesthesia. Anesthesia is used because it is able to block pain signals from traveling through the patient's nervous system that would otherwise be present due to incisions and other physical trauma associated to surgical procedures. Administering anesthesia is much different today than it was even decades ago, but the concept of "going under" is still a very frightening thing for many people.

Part of the reason minimally invasive cosmetic procedures have such a growing demand is because they eliminate the need for anesthesia, thus reducing the risks of adverse effects. Still, many traditional plastic surgery procedures are the most effective ways of achieving a certain desired appearance, which minimally invasive procedures may not be able to accomplish. Especially for patients with advanced signs of aging or more drastic sagging, cosmetic surgery might be the only practical option to reach a patient’s individual cosmetic goals.

Monitoring Patients Under Anesthesia 

Today, doctors are beyond using just a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff as the primary monitoring tool when anesthesia has been administered. Doctors are now able to choose from a variety of specific drugs that are targeted to specific bodily function, as well as implement monitoring equipment that has been able to dramatically reduce anesthesia related complications over the years. In just the last decade, deaths due to anesthesia have declined 25 fold, to just one in 250,000.

A medical tool called the pulse oximeter is able to constantly measure the amount of oxygen in the patient's blood while under anesthesia, and should the oxygen level drop too far for whatever reason, an alarm will sound, alerting there is a problem. Other advances have been made, allowing anesthesia to be a much safer process, as well as a greater understanding of how anesthesia affects different patients, but everyone reacts to anesthesia differently. Some patients report anesthesia awareness, or experiencing a consciousness of the surroundings during a procedure. Although rare, there are always going to be risks linked to anesthesia.

Anesthesiologists 

Patients should recognize that, while there is a risk of complication during anesthesia, there are many reputable and experienced anesthesiologists who assist well-trained and gifted plastic surgeons. An anesthesiologist is a doctor of medicine who has completed college, four years of medical school, four years of post medical school training that involves a year of internship and three years in an anesthesiology residency program and some doctors even complete subspecialty training programs. Special courses, seminars, and continued experience keep anesthesiologists up to date on the latest medical advances in administering anesthesia.

Contact A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Near You 

If interested in cosmetic surgery, patients are encouraged contact us to find a highly regarded plastic surgeon for a consultation. Any reputable plastic surgeon will only want to work with the best medical staff, including an anesthesiologist proven to expertly administer anesthesia in the safest manner possible to each and every patient.

Anesthesia

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