Why You Recover Faster With Awake Blepharoplasty

Awake plastic surgery offers a number of benefits as compared to traditional plastic surgery. Because of this, it has become increasingly popular among those considering cosmetic surgery. Improving your appearance is a great investment as it can improve your confidence. If you are considering plastic surgery, awake blepharoplasty can take years off your appearance. Below you will find helpful information about the procedure, including why you recover faster with awake blepharoplasty.

Dr. Kenneth Kim provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures at his practice in Los Angeles. He has vast experience in each procedure, ensuring that you are in good hands whether you choose an awake surgery or a procedure with general anesthesia.

Why You Recover Faster With Awake Blepharoplasty

Awake blepharoplasty, also referred to as “awake eyelid surgery,” results in a much faster recovery process as compared to going under general anesthesia. This is especially true when it comes to the post-operative experience. General anesthesia can cause a number of unwanted side effects post-surgery, including nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, sore throat, muscle aches, itching, shivering, and sleepiness. With awake blepharoplasty in Los Angeles, you can expect to feel better quickly due to the benefits of local anesthesia.

Benefits of Awake Blepharoplasty

Awake blepharoplasty has become increasingly popular due to the major benefits. In addition to awake eyelid procedures, other cosmetic surgeries can now be down as awake procedures. In each case, this allows patients to pursue their aesthetic goals with reduced risk and better results. Consider the following if you are interested in improving the look of your eyes.

Smoother Recovery: The recovery period for awake plastic surgery is smoother than traditional surgeries. General anesthesia puts a lot more stress on your body. This can impact your healing and recovery as your body heals.
Comparable Results: One of the major benefits of awake procedures is that you get comparable results without all of the risks associated with general anesthesia. Awake blepharoplasty will leave you looking just as amazing without all of the unwanted side effects.
Less Risk: Unlike local anesthesia, general anesthesia comes with additional risks. Some significant risks include blood clots, memory loss, and heart complications. Because safety is the top priority, awake blepharoplasty offers significant safety benefits. This is a major benefit as your results are not compromised by choosing local anesthesia.
Less Discomfort: People incorrectly assume the level of pain and discomfort they will experience after awake blepharoplasty. Awake plastic surgery is much less painful as compared to traditional surgery. This is because local anesthesia minimizes the stress on your body, which results in less pain as you recover.
Better Results: Awake blepharoplasty often yields better results. This is because with the use of local anesthesia and sedation, there is less bleeding. Less bleeding often results in less scar tissue. The results look natural while taking years off of your face.

Recovering from General Anesthesia

For procedures that use general anesthesia, your body faces the task of recovering not only from the sedation itself but from the surgery as well. Anesthesia can be a powerful tool in heavy surgery, but it is best replaced with a lighter variant for cosmetic procedures such as eyelid surgery.

Even once patients regain consciousness when general anesthesia has left the brain, they may need hours to days to fully regain their full cognitive faculties. This can prove frustrating for patients whose occupations require higher level thinking and even pose a risk for individuals operating heavy machinery or vehicles.

While this risk and others, such as changes in neural activity, are minimal, they are always worth considering when choosing the type of anesthetic for a procedure. We encourage patients to opt for awake procedures whenever possible, as the benefits are numerous.

Factors that Increase Risks With General Anesthesia

Specific allergies to anesthesia
Personal or family history of negative reactions to anesthesia
Diabetes
Heart disease & high blood pressure
Kidney problems
Lung conditions and diseases
Obesity
Obstructive sleep apnea
History of stroke
Seizures or other neurological disorders

Your surgeon should always examine your family history before recommending any procedure or anesthesia. However, it is vital to always be truthful and provide as much information as you can. Still, with awake procedures, you eliminate much of the risk of the procedure by putting less strain on your body.

Overview of an Awake Blepharoplasty Procedure

Blepharoplasty can be safely and effectively performed under local anesthesia. In addition to local anesthesia, you will be sedated for optimal comfort during the procedure. Local anesthesia effectively numbs the surgical area. However, sedation helps you stay calm and relaxed during the procedure. Light or deep sedation options are available, which will be discussed at your consultation.

The procedure generally takes less than 2 hours. Each patient is uniquely different so that time can vary. The procedure is intended to enhance the appearance of your eyes by removing the excess skin and fat around your eyes. Upper blepharoplasty also involves tightening your eyelid muscle to give you a firmer and more youthful appearance. After your procedure it’s important to focus on rest and recovery for the first two weeks. This can ensure optimal results and help you get through the recovery process much faster and more effectively.

Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles

If you want to enhance your appearance, consider visiting Dr. Kim, a world-renowned expert for plastic surgery in Los Angeles. Dr. Kenneth Kim and his team at Dream Medical Group specialize in awake blepharoplasty and a number of other cosmetic procedures. Their patients report an increase in self-confidence due to the stunning results from their procedures. Contact their office today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how you can recover faster with awake blepharoplasty!

References

Islander G, Vinge E. Severe neuroexcitatory symptoms after anaesthesia – with focus on propofol anaesthesia. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2000;44:144–9.
Misal, U. S., Joshi, S. A., & Shaikh, M. M. (2016). Delayed recovery from anesthesia: A postgraduate educational review. Anesthesia, essays and researches, 10(2), 164–172. https://doi.org/10.4103/0259-1162.165506
(n.d.). Anesthesia Risks. American Society of Anesthesiologists. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/anesthesia-101/types-of-anesthesia/anesthesia-risks/
Storm, E. (2021). Awake Blepharoplasty. Aedit. https://aedit.com/procedure/awake-blepharoplasty