Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 5/6/2007

Question
hi i am soon to have some plastic surgery procedures done which entails a full body lift. my doctor has said he is going 2 split the procedure in 2 operations. perform one part and then 10 days later the second part. is it safe 2 have a anesthetic twice like this or better to be under anestehtic for a longer period so he can perform the surgeey in one operation. please let me know? im not very sure although he does confirm that this is less risky

Answer
There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods. As far as safety, they are probably equal assuming you are otherwise healthy and there is not much blood loss.  With one anesthetic, you may wake up groggier, in more pain and more anemic but you only have to have one anesthetic and you are done. With 2 anesthetics, each procedure is shorter so you wake up feeling better and in less pain but you have to go through with it another time. If it is going to be a very long procedure, I would probably recommend the two sittings.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston