General Anesthesia in Plastic Surgery: Fears and Recommendations

Many patients are afraid to have plastic surgery because of anesthesia: “Will I wake up after the surgery? Will I feel unwell? Will my hair fall out?”… And this is only part of the unfounded fears. Let’s figure out how preparation, anesthesia, and recovery actually take place to dispel these concerns.
Preoperative preparation
Before any plastic surgery in Istanbul at the clinic, the following is always conducted:
- Blood tests, ECG, and if necessary, lung examination
- Consultation with an anesthesiologist, reviewing the patient’s medical history
- Opportunity to ask the anesthesiologist all questions
If the patient has chronic conditions (high blood sugar, high blood pressure, thyroid problems), the anesthesiologist takes this into account when selecting the anesthesia plan. In some cases, the regular medication intake is temporarily adjusted or additional medications are prescribed after surgery to accelerate recovery.
Conclusion: proper preoperative preparation allows the anesthesiologist to choose a safe and individualized anesthesia plan for each patient.
What type of anesthesia is used?
In Turkey, plastic surgeries usually use intravenous anesthesia, not gas anesthesia.
Advantages of intravenous anesthesia:
- The patient is safe, with their condition fully monitored by the doctor
- Intubation eliminates the risk of the tongue falling back
- There is no risk of waking up on the operating table
- Suitable for surgeries of any duration, including complex procedures
Gas anesthesia is rarely used and only for short-term operations. In our practice, we use exclusively intravenous anesthesia as the most reliable and safe method.
Modern monitoring systems constantly track the patient’s condition, and the anesthesiologist can instantly adjust the dose to ensure complete comfort and safety.
We also recommend watching the video on our YouTube channel about addressing all anesthesia fears, where we answer the most popular questions about general anesthesia in plastic surgery.
Dispelling myths about anesthesia
Myth 1: “I might not wake up after surgery”
Modern drugs are safe, and the risk is practically nonexistent. This is a psychological fear, not a real threat.
Myth 2: “There will be hallucinations or strange behavior after anesthesia”
Today, new anesthetics are used that do not cause such effects. After waking up, the patient feels just like after normal sleep.
Myth 3: “Anesthesia shortens life, causes hair loss, or worsens skin”
All modern drugs are eliminated from the body within 24 hours. There are no long-term negative consequences.
Advantages of medicine in Turkey
- All medications and drugs are original, modern, and safe — counterfeits are strictly punished by law
- Highly qualified plastic surgeons
- Modern international protocols
- Minimal trauma and quick recovery period
Any concerns about anesthesia are completely unfounded. Much more important is the correct choice of surgeon and quality preoperative preparation.
Video on how to find the ideal plastic surgeon:
Patient advice
- Study the surgeon’s work and real examples of surgeries
- Discuss all health details with the anesthesiologist
- Trust modern clinics with a proven reputation
If you want to see examples of work and select a surgeon for your procedure, visit our Instagram plastika.globalmedik
Our medical consultants will help you choose a specialist, and the anesthesiologist will ensure a safe and comfortable operation.