Every plastic surgery procedure carries a different level of pain and/or discomfort, and will require different methods of anesthetizing. The patient’s preferences for safety and comfort, as well as personal pain threshold, can help determine what type of anesthesia will be used, in most situations. Very minor, non-invasive surgeries might involve a topical anesthetic, while minor invasive surgeries may call for local anesthetic or local combined with sedation. General anesthesia is usually used for more involved surgeries.

Where your actual surgery is performed depends from surgeon to surgeon. Most plastic surgeons are affiliated with a local hospitals and can arrange operating room times as needed. Many carry out a similar procedure at surgical centers. Some surgeons even have private surgery suites in their own office space. You’ll find that many plastic surgeons fit into all or most of these categories, and offer options to each patient. They would then help you choose your surgery location based on comfort, safety, scheduling issues, and sometimes geography issues (which surgery location is closest to home, etc.).