1. Understanding the Traditional Approach: General Anesthesia

For decades, many cosmetic procedures have been performed with the patient fully paralyzed under general anesthesia. This approach renders you unconscious, ensuring you feel no discomfort or awareness during the surgery. While general anesthesia can be suitable in certain scenarios, it also comes with notable drawbacks:

• Extended Recovery: One common complaint after general anesthesia is lingering grogginess or nausea, sometimes lasting for hours or even days post-surgery. This can extend your overall recovery time.
• Higher Risk Profile: Although generally safe, general anesthesia has its own set of potential complications, including reactions to anesthesia drugs, airway difficulties, higher risks of blood clots in the legs, many instance of perforation of the abdominal cavity due to the abdominal muscles bein paralyzed, fat embolism during BBLs, and increased stress on the cardiovascular system.
• Logistical Challenges: When performing procedures that involve multiple areas—like liposuction on the abdomen, sides, and back—surgeons often have to physically flip the fully sedated patient to access different areas. This flipping process usually requires a team of at least four staff members and complicates the procedure significantly.

While general anesthesia was once the default for many cosmetic procedures, advances in technology and technique have paved the way for safer, more comfortable, and often more precise methods—especially for procedures like liposuction, BBL, and fat transfers to the breasts or hands.

2. The Rise of Awake Surgeries Under Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia involves numbing a specific area or set of areas rather than putting you completely to sleep. During an awake procedure, you remain conscious but feel little to no pain, thanks to comprehensive numbing measures and mild sedatives. These procedures often include a combination of local anesthetic (like lidocaine), a mild sedative (such as Xanax), and a light analgesic (like Demerol) to ensure a calm, pain-free experience.

This approach has skyrocketed in popularity for a variety of reasons:

1. Reduced Risk: Avoiding general anesthesia naturally eliminates many risks associated with being fully sedated, such as respiratory and airway complications or adverse reactions to the anesthesia drugs.
2. Faster Recovery: Because you’re not being placed under heavy anesthetics, the post-op “hangover” from anesthesia is virtually eliminated, enabling a quicker return to your normal routines.
3. Enhanced Comfort and Communication: Staying awake allows you to communicate with your surgical team, adjust your position if needed, and remain actively involved in your own comfort.

3. Minimally Invasive with Quicker Recovery

One of the hallmark benefits of undergoing awake procedures is how quickly patients can bounce back. After traditional general anesthesia, it’s not uncommon to feel fatigued, nauseous, or disoriented. Conversely, many patients who opt for local anesthesia report feeling alert and stable within a short period. Some even find they can resume light daily activities the following day, provided they follow the surgeon’s post-op instructions.

Key Recovery Benefits:

• Less Nausea: Without general anesthesia, there is typically less (or no) post-operative nausea.
• Lower Risk of Blood Clots: Awake patients can often move around or shift position more easily during and after the procedure, which helps reduce the risk of complications like deep vein thrombosis.
• Streamlined Discharge: You can return home soon after the procedure because they don’t require extended observation, thereby minimizing overall downtime.

4. The Unique Advantage of Awake Liposuction and Body Contouring

Awake liposuction—and by extension, awake BBLs and fat transfers—offer a unique advantage when it comes to technique and precision, and thus, the overall result. Why? Because body contouring often involves multiple body positions to ensure an even, sculpted result.

Flipping vs. Turning

Under general anesthesia, flipping a patient to reach their sides and back poses a logistical challenge. It usually takes at least four staff members to carefully roll and reposition a sedated, unconscious patient. Because this can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, some surgeons only flip the patient facing up and then facing down  to save time and reduce the complexity of the procedure. The consequence? Potentially uneven results and inability to sculpt the sides of the body effectively.

By contrast, when you are awake, the surgeon can simply ask you to turn to your side, then onto your back, and then onto your other side, multiple times throughout the procedure. This allows the surgeon to thoroughly address all target areas from the optimal angles.

Cross-Hatching for Smoother Contours

An equally critical aspect of precision liposuction is a technique called cross-hatching. This involves angling the liposuction cannula in various directions to evenly remove fat and prevent unevenness, lumps, or bumps. Performing cross-hatching techniques often requires repositioning the patient multiple times to reach each area effectively. Being able to communicate directly with an awake patient—even asking them to slightly shift or contract certain muscles—can make a noticeable difference in the smoothness of the final result.

By maintaining full control over your own positioning, you collaborate with the surgical team in achieving the most balanced, aesthetically pleasing outcome possible—without any of the added hazards or complexities that come with general anesthesia.

5. Our Minimally Invasive Anesthesia Protocol

To maximize your experience and minimize discomfort, we combine multiple measures to ensure you remain relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure:

• Light Sedation (Xanax): This mild sedative helps take the edge off any anxiety, keeping you calm without knocking you out completely.
• Light Analgesic (Demerol): A small intramuscular shot of Demerol eases any potential pain, supplementing the local anesthetic.
• Local Anesthetic (Lidocaine Infiltration): We spend at least half an hour gently infiltrating the treatment areas with lidocaine. This step numbs the tissue to a degree where the procedure is virtually painless. Following the numbing process, you get a lengthy break while the numbing slowly reaches maximum effect before we start removing the fat.

This multi-pronged approach to anesthesia ensures you remain awake, aware, and comfortable, allowing for the precision and adaptability that is crucial in body contouring procedures.

6. The “No Needles” Approach 

Many patients who are new to awake surgery are relieved to hear that we rarely use needles for the infiltration process. Instead, we rely on a special device called DermaJet. This tool creates a tiny weal of numbing fluid at the entry site, effectively delivering the lidocaine without traditional needle sticks.

Benefits of DermaJet:

1. Less Discomfort: Without the sharp prick of a needle, the process is often more comfortable for patients.
2. Precision Delivery: The device allows for a more controlled infiltration of the local anesthetic.
3. Rapid Numbing: By delivering the anesthetic directly into the tissue, patients experience quick and consistent numbing.

7. Comfort and Entertainment During the Procedure

The idea of being awake during a surgical procedure might seem intimidating at first, but patients are often pleasantly surprised by how relaxed they feel. In many cases, they say it’s comparable to being at a spa appointment—only with more dramatic results!

In-Procedure Personal Entertainment

We make sure you have plenty of ways to stay occupied and comfortable:

1. 65-Inch TVs with Streaming Services: Catch up on your favorite shows or discover a new series on Netflix, Hulu, or almost any other streaming platform.
2. Music Playlists: If you’d rather close your eyes, pop in some earbuds or let us play your favorite music right in the operating room.
3. Panoramic Views of Lake Michigan: Our operating rooms are equipped with large, floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook Lake Michigan, Navy Pier, and the Chicago skyline. Enjoy the view, or simply let the natural light enhance your sense of calm.

Because the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, you are free to chat with the surgical team, ask questions, or request small adjustments to keep yourself comfortable throughout.

8. Typical Timeline: It’s Faster Than You Think

Most awake liposuction and body contouring procedures are surprisingly efficient:

• Fat Removal Procedures: Typically take under two hours, depending on the number of areas treated and the volume of fat targeted. This 2 hours even includes at least a half hour break after the numbing while the numbing reaches maximum effect befoe we start removing the fat.
• Fat Transfer Add-On: If you’re also opting for a fat transfer to the breasts or a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), the entire procedure might only extend by an additional 15 to 20 minutes or so for the transfer process.

This efficiency is due to the fact that the surgeon and staff don’t have to engage in complex flipping maneuvers for a sedated patient. Instead, your cooperation allows them to reposition you quickly and easily, ensuring a thorough and precise result in less time.

9. Avoiding the Risks and Prolonged Recovery of General Anesthesia

Many of our patients choose the awake route to avoid the well-documented downsides of general anesthesia:

• Respiratory & Cardiovascular Risks: General anesthesia can pose rare but serious risks, including compromised breathing or unexpected cardiac events. Local anesthesia significantly diminishes these concerns.
• Extended Downtime: Nausea, dizziness, and a general sense of grogginess often accompany the use of general anesthesia, sometimes lasting days. Awake procedures help you bounce back faster.
• Surgical Complexities: As discussed, flipping an unconscious patient multiple times is not only time-consuming but also poses a greater chance for mistakes or inadequate contouring. Staying awake allows for optimal body positioning and thorough fat removal.

10. A Quick Look at What to Expect: Before, During, and After

Before the Procedure

• Consultation: You’ll discuss your aesthetic goals, medical history, and areas you’d like to address. Your surgeon will determine whether you’re a good candidate for an awake procedure based on factors like overall health and the extent of treatment required.
• Preparation: You may receive specific guidelines on diet, hydration, and medications to avoid before surgery. Because you’ll only be under local anesthesia, nof fasting is involved compared to general anesthesia cases.

During the Procedure

1. Mild Sedation: You’ll be given a small dose of Xanax to soothe any nerves, and a shot of Demerol in the arm muscle to alleviate potential discomfort.
2. DermaJet Numbing: Rather than multiple needle sticks, DermaJet administers lidocaine to create localized numbness.
3. Lidocaine Infiltration: The surgeon will spend about 30 minutes thoroughly numbing all targeted areas.
4. Positioning & Fat Removal: You’ll be asked to turn to your side, then to your back, then to your other side, and so on as needed. This ensures complete, even fat removal with cross-hatching to prevent lumps and bumps.
5. Fat Transfer (if applicable): If you’re enhancing your breasts or buttocks, the removed fat is purified and then strategically injected into the desired area. This typically adds only about 15 to 20 extra minutes of procedure time.

After the Procedure

• Immediate Recovery: Most patients feel alert soon after. You can typically stand up, walk around, and even use the restroom if needed.
• Post-Op Instructions: You’ll receive a detailed outline of how to care for your incision sites and manage any minor discomfort or swelling.
• Compression garments are applied to help contour the treated areas. We even provide a BBL pillow if you had a BBL.
• Getting Back to Life: Many people return to light routines the next day, although it’s wise to avoid strenuous activity for a couple of weeks. Every patient’s recovery is unique, so follow your surgeon’s advice closely.

11. Financing Your Awake Transformation

We firmly believe that everyone should have access to high-quality, minimally invasive cosmetic solutions. To help make this a reality:

• Cherry Payments: Qualified candidates can access 24 months of zero-interest financing, allowing you to break down the cost into manageable monthly installments.
• CareCredit: Another popular option that often offers promotional financing and flexible payment plans for those who qualify.

By offering multiple payment solutions, we strive to make it easier for you to invest in your confidence and well-being—without bearing the full cost upfront.

12. The Bottom Line: Is Awake Surgery Right for You?

Awake liposuction, BBLs, and fat transfers provide a safer, more comfortable alternative to general anesthesia, without compromising the quality or longevity of your results. From reduced recovery times and minimized risk to the unique advantage of being able to turn freely during the procedure, awake surgery stands out as a modern approach that aligns with patients’ growing desire for less invasive, more patient-centric care.

Key Takeaways:

• You stay conscious, yet comfortable, throughout the procedure.
• By avoiding general anesthesia, you reduce risks and potential complications.
• Flipping yourself for better access leads to more thorough fat removal and smoother contours.
• Your overall experience—from sedation to entertainment options—is designed to keep you relaxed and engaged.

Ultimately, the decision to have cosmetic surgery—awake or otherwise—should be based on a detailed discussion with your surgeon who understands your goals and medical background. For many, however, the awake approach offers the perfect blend of safety, comfort, and precision.

13. Ready to Learn More?

If you’re intrigued by the idea of an awake procedure and want to discover whether you’re a good candidate, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Please complete your health questionnaire at the link provided and at the end of the questionnaire you will be invited to self-book your complimentary consultation. Our team will walk you through every step of the process, from initial assessment and preparation to day-of logistics and post-op care. We’re here to answer your questions, dispel any lingering fears, and help you decide if this cutting-edge approach aligns with your vision for body transformation.

After all, safety, comfort, and remarkable results are not just buzzwords in our practice—they’re guiding principles. Awake surgeries under local anesthesia exemplify these principles by giving you the best possible opportunity for a personalized, thorough, and confidence-boosting transformation.

Ready to take the next step? Contact us today to discover how an awake liposuction, BBL, or fat transfer procedure can help you achieve the body you’ve always wanted—without the risks, complications, or lengthy recovery associated with general anesthesia. It’s time to experience the future of cosmetic surgery: awake, alert, and completely in control of your own comfort and results.