Plastic surgery anesthesia
What procedure(s) are you having done? 7 hours for any procedure(s) is a very long time.
If you are having a plastic surgery, it should be around 2 to 3 hours max.
If you are having some liposuction at the same time, maybe add on an hour or so.
However, 7 hours seems excessive. I would seek clarification with your doctor about what exactly is being planned. (David Shafer, MD, )
What you need to know about surgery time and safety
Plastic surgery anesthesia image
There is a quiet debate among plastic surgeons about surgery time, in that some routinely schedule 7 hours or longer. I agree with the other respondents that this is too long. To your other point, 7 hours under sedation anesthesia is not going to be safer than general anesthesia, particularly for liosuction procedures.
With lipo, there is a numbing solution containing lidocaine that is infused into the fat. (If this is the only anesthesia it is called tumescent.) But lidocaine levels in the blood peak about 8-12 hours later, so any toxicity would happen then. For a long procedure involving liposuction, general anesthesia may enable the surgeon to use less lidocaine so it could actually be safer. Bear in mind that liposuction is surgery, and so make sure your doctor is a board-certified plastic surgeon and works in an accredited surgical facility. (Richard Baxter, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)
Lipo and duration
Plastic surgery anesthesia photo
To be blunt, Yes this is way too long for a liposuction procedure. If you are doing many different areas you should reconsider and stage some of the procedures. If you still have questions or concerns get a second opinion. (Delio Ortegon, MD, San Antonio Plastic Surgeon)
I will apologize in advance for my abruptness, but the short answer to your question is YES! First of all, general anesthesia with a board certified anesthesiologist is definitely safer than local anesthesia and sedation without an anesthesiologist.
Secondly, most surgeons would be capable of doing a breast lift with implants, a tummy tuck, a waist tighteneng and various liposuction in 5 hours or less. I think you need to rethink your plans. This does not sound at all safe to me.
The plastic surgery anesthesia
Please make sure you are seeing a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (those exact words) and your surgery is being done in a CERTIFIED outpatient center or a hospital. (Ronald V. DeMars, MD, Portland Plastic Surgeon)
Check out the doctor
I would be more worried about the doctor. In 7 hours I can do at least 3 tummy tucks. Is your doctor a board certified plastic surgeon, is he on staff of a local hospital? Check those things out first. (William B. Rosenblatt, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)
How long is too long?
Plastic surgery anesthesia before
While it is normal to be nervous, it can be a sign that you should ask more questions or ensure that you feel comfortable with the entire surgery. I would make sure that your surgery is being performed by an board-certified anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist who is adequately being supervised by an anesthesiologist. If this is being done at an office-based setting or an ambulatory surgery center, I would make sure that it is certified by the state and AAAASF. I would ask the surgeon how much fat he expects to remove. Lastly, since liposuction that is planned for that length of time would involve a significant amount of fluid, both from your IV as well as the tumescent fluid needed to perform the procedure, these large fluid shifts could cause undue stress on your heart. The American Society of Plastic Surgery does not recommend “large-volume” liposuction for this reason. Make sure you are getting your surgery done by a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon. (Tito Vasquez, MD, FACS, Southport Plastic Surgeon)
