Expert: JM Starkman, MD - 8/17/2011

Question
Hi, i am about to undergo a cosmetic surgery that is scheduled to last 8.5 hours.
A friend hematologist/ internist worries about the length and would have preferred a max of 6 hours instead.
She worries about the toxicity of the drugs used in these lengths.
My plastic surgeon said not to worry, he does it often and his only concern was the use of a certain anesthesiologist who he pledges to perform the general anesthesia on me staying also that she manages to minimize post nausea etc upon wakening. I tend to site with my doctor whom i trust but i know very little about anesthisiology and my friend has got me worried. What do you believe? Thank you very much in advance, br, Marina.

Answer
I believe you and your friend should preoperatively speak with the anesthesiologist who is scheduled to provide your anesthesia for your cosmetic surgery. I've covered many of the important questions that should be asked in this area of ALLExperts previously and you may want to review them prior to the preop meeting.

Good luck (and although 8.5 hours seems like a lot, quite a few surgeries are considerably longer than that and result in little in the way of unique or time-related problems).