Is It Possible To Have Rhinoplasty Without Anesthesia

Ever wonder can you get a nose job without anesthesia? Rhinoplasty is a procedure used to correct nose shapes and functional deformities.

Moreover, now It is possible to undergo rhinoplasty without anesthesia. These treatments are carried out using local anesthesia or IV sedation. This article will cover the types of anesthesia, risks and safety concerns associated with them.

Role Of Anesthesia in Rhinoplasty Surgery

Some people might want to know, “Does a nose job require general anesthesia?”. Sometimes yes and sometimes not all it depends on the patient’s condition. Rhinoplasty is an invasive cosmetic surgery;

• • It involves a vital organ that helps us breathe.
  • There is a little space to perform surgery leaving no room for error.

There are two surgical techniques to perform Rhinoplasty i.e., open or closed surgery.

1. Open Surgery – A complex procedure where incisions are made across the columella, giving better visualization of nose.
2. Closed Surgery – Incisions are made inside nostrils, making it suitable for minimal surgeries.

These complex procedures require anesthesia to reduce bleeding and numb the face for safe and effective surgery.

Benefits Of Anesthesia In Rhinoplasty Procedures

Anesthesia is used during rhinoplasty for following benefits:

• To reduce bleeding by blocking blood flow to the nose
• It protects the airway from blood.
• Patients feel safe and comfortable, leading to effective surgery.
• It reduces postoperative pain

For these reasons, anesthesia is somehow considered a “must” in rhinoplasty procedures.

Rhinoplasty Without Anesthesia – Is it Right For You?

Can you have rhinoplasty without anesthesia? Surprisingly Yes! With advancement in medical technologies, it is possible to perform nose surgery without anesthesia. It can be performed in two ways:

Rhinoplasty With Local Anesthesia

Rhinoplasty local anesthesia numbs a specific part of the patient’s face without losing consciousness. It stops the relevant nerve from sending signals to the brain, thus preventing the patient from feeling pain during surgery.

Local anesthesia is a safer alternative for individuals who cannot undergo general anesthesia.

Advantages Of Using Local Anesthesia

Rhinoplasty without anesthesia has some benefits which includes:

• Patients feel comfortable as well as conscious during surgery.
• Surgeons can monitor their facial expressions, muscles and nerves to perform an effective surgery.
• Only a little amount of blood is shed during surgery.
• Bruising is reduced after surgery.
• No breathing support is required during rhinoplasty.
• This procedure takes a few hours and doesn’t require hospitalization.
• Rhinoplasty under local anesthesia allows short time recovery.

Rhinoplasty With IV Sedation

In Intravenous sedation, anesthetic agents are delivered carefully through an IV tube. The patient is in an unconscious state but respiration is not disturbed. Mostly, local anesthesia is used with sedation to reduce pain and discomfort.

It is also known as Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) or Twilight anesthesia, because it requires skilled anesthetists to keenly observe the flow of medication during the procedure.

Benefits of IV Sedation

Drugs used in twilight anesthesia are similar to general anesthetics, but they’re given in a mild dose. It helps the patients in the following ways:

• Patients can respond to their surgeons during the procedure.
• Drugs reduce the pain and anxiety of patients.
• These drugs can be reversed instantly, to remove the twilight state.

Intravenous sedation is used widely in rhinoplasty without anesthesia, but it can create some complications during surgery.

Risks And Safety Considerations

There are risks associated with IV sedation:

• It is difficult to achieve the right dose of potential drugs.
• Breathing is affected when there is too much anesthetic.
• Any sudden movement of patient can disrupt the surgery.
• It cannot be used during significant bleeding, due to risk of blood flow into the lungs.

Mostly, surgeons recommend rhinoplasty without sedation for the patient’s safety and comfort.

Why Is There A Need For Rhinoplasty Without Anesthesia?

Rhinoplasty is normally performed under general anesthesia. However, sometimes it may create some complications. The choice of suitable anesthesia depends on complexity of procedure and patient’s comfort.

General Anesthesia & Its Complications

Nose job is typically performed under general anesthesia. Under it, the patient is completely unconscious and motionless throughout surgery and doesn’t feel anything. These patients are in a sleepy state and don’t remember events that happened during surgery.

This is used for operations of longer duration, with respiration maintained through a ventilator.

Limitations And Side-Effects

General anesthetics are not suitable for;

• Overweight individuals
• Smokers,
• Patients having drug allergies
• High blood pressure
• History of adverse reactions to general anesthesia.
• This procedure may cause some postoperative side-effects;
  • • Nausea and vomiting after rhinoplasty
    • Elevated Blood pressure
    • Heavy facial bruising, swelling & discomfort

Nausea can be prevented by using narcotic-free general anesthetics. Some patients consider a nose surgery without anesthesia due to these complications.

Types Of Anesthesia-Free Rhinoplasty Procedures

Nose surgery without anesthesia can be a non-surgical rhinoplasty or an awake rhinoplasty.

Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty

Non-surgical procedure uses dermal fillers to change the appearance of the nose temporarily. It is a non-invasive procedure which lasts for a very short time and doesn’t require general or local anesthesia at all.

Awake Rhinoplasty

This procedure involves rhinoplasty local anesthesia with twilight sedation to keep patients awake and responsive during surgery. It is an approach to traditional surgery which is used to correct minor deformities.

Right Choice of Anesthesia

Each anesthetic option has its own benefits and side-effects as well, however to choose suitable anesthesia, surgeons perform preoperative testing to determine the right anesthetic for patients. Sometimes, they consult with an anesthesia specialist who observes patient blood pressure and oxygen saturation for their well-being.