Quick Answer: There is no single maximum amount of time a person can safely remain under general anesthesia. Some operations require anesthesia for many hours, but risks can increase as surgery becomes longer. Your individual risk depends on your health, the procedure, blood loss, positioning, and the anesthesia and surgical plan.
This week’s ACA Question of the Week is a little more complex than usual, primarily because of what is involved. The question comes from our Facebook page, and asks, “I fell and ruptured one of my 30-year-old silicone implants. Since I have to have it removed, I decided to replace the implants with silicone gummy bear implants and have a breast lift and a tummy tuck. One surgeon wants to do the tummy tuck in a separate surgery because he doesn’t want his patients under anesthesia for longer than 5 hours. Another surgeon who uses nurse anesthesiologists will do both at the same time. I am 6’7”, 195 lbs. and in good health. Is it safe to be under anesthesia for 6-7 hours?”
Considering a cosmetic procedure in South Florida? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Thomas Pane, a plastic surgeon Palm Beach Gardens, to discuss your procedure, medical history, surgical plan, and questions about anesthesia and recovery.
How Long Can You Be Under Anesthesia?
There is no universal time limit that determines how long every patient can safely remain under anesthesia. Procedures lasting several hours may be appropriate for some healthy patients, while another patient’s medical history, the complexity of surgery, blood loss, positioning, or other factors may make a shorter operation preferable.
Dr. Pane says that the biggest concern is the amount of work that needs to be done all at one time. Many surgeons won’t undertake a procedure of this length, primarily because of concerns about keeping the patient under anesthesia for too long.
For office-based surgery, applicable Florida requirements and facility standards also need to be considered. Rather than treating any specific number of hours as a universal anesthesia safety cutoff, the surgeon and anesthesia provider should determine whether the planned length and setting are appropriate for the individual patient.
Dr. Pane also notes that he considers himself to be about “middle of the road speed” when it comes to performing extensive procedures. He says he can do the combination procedure in about five hours, and that he knows surgeons who could probably do it even faster.
What Factors Affect How Long You Can Safely Be Under Anesthesia?
Another issue is the patient’s overall health and whether they are a “bleeder.” Every person is a little different, and a longer operation can increase concerns related to blood loss and other surgical or anesthesia-related risks.
Presuming the patient is in good health, recovers well from surgery and does not have any abnormal bleeding or clotting problems, Dr. Pane sees no reason these procedures cannot potentially be performed in a single session within an appropriate operative timeframe. Many surgeons would disagree with this assessment, but as with so many other things, personal preference and clinical judgment exist among cosmetic surgeons as well.
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Why a Ruptured Silicone Implant May Need Attention
The most urgent procedure would be to remove the leaking implant. Although surgical-grade silicone is generally not a problem within the body, the leakage can result in a bust profile that is less aesthetically pleasing than it could be, and there is always a chance that something could go wrong.
As this patient wants to swap silicone for so-called “gummy bear” implants, the existing scar capsules where the current implants have been placed would need to be reworked to better accommodate the replacement prostheses. If the damaged implant wasn’t leaking, it may not take quite so high a priority on the list of concerns.
Can Multiple Cosmetic Procedures Be Performed at the Same Time?
Dr. Pane’s personal preference would be to do the procedures all at one time, with an anticipated completion time of about four and a half hours to six hours as an outside estimate.
He says this actually limits the trauma to the patient and makes the aftercare and recovery process much more tolerable and less painful. With regards to bleeding concerns, he observes that there are techniques surgeons can use to limit the bleeding. He has used these techniques many times and has very rarely if ever had a problem with abnormal or severe patient bleeding.
Whether combining procedures is appropriate, however, depends on the individual patient, the procedures being performed, the anticipated operative time, and the judgment of the surgical and anesthesia teams.
CRNA vs. Anesthesiologist for Cosmetic Surgery
As far as having a CRNA or anesthesiologist, this is really a matter that should be discussed between the patient, surgeon, anesthesia provider, and surgical facility.
Both types of providers are trained in administering anesthesia within their respective scopes of practice. Which anesthesia professional is involved can depend on the procedure, facility, patient’s medical needs, and applicable requirements.
For this type of procedure, Dr. Pane recommends that this patient get a couple of different opinions as to how to proceed, to ensure the best possible outcome and maximum comfort and security in the results.
Questions to Ask Before a Longer Cosmetic Surgery
If you are considering several cosmetic procedures during one operation, talk with your surgeon and anesthesia provider about the anticipated length of surgery, your health history, the surgical setting, blood-loss precautions, clot prevention, and the recovery plan.
The important question is not simply how many hours anesthesia will last, but whether the entire surgical plan is appropriate for your health and can be performed safely in the chosen setting.
If you would like to get more information about cosmetic surgery, especially if it’s specific to a particular procedure, Dr. Thomas A. Pane and the staff of Atlantic Coast Aesthetics encourage you to ask away! You can call us at (561) 422-4116, follow us on Facebook or email us at https://acplasticsurg.com/.
There’s a good chance your question could be the next ACA Question of the Week, to be answered by Dr. Pane in an upcoming live Google Hangout. It’s your body and your beauty. Don’t leave it to chance! Remember, the only bad question is the one you don’t ask.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anesthesia Duration
How long is too long to be under anesthesia?
There is no single number of hours that is automatically “too long” for every patient. The appropriate duration depends on factors such as your health, the type and complexity of surgery, blood loss, positioning, and how you respond during the procedure.
How long can someone be under anesthesia?
Someone may remain under general anesthesia for several hours when a procedure requires it. The anesthesia team continuously monitors the patient and adjusts medications and supportive care throughout the operation.
How long does anesthesia last?
General anesthesia is maintained for as long as necessary to complete the planned procedure. After the anesthetic medicines are reduced or stopped, patients generally begin waking soon afterward, although grogginess and other effects can continue for several hours.
How long can a person be under anesthesia?
There is no universal maximum anesthesia duration that applies to every person. A surgeon and anesthesia provider consider the patient’s medical history, procedure, expected operative time, surgical setting, and other risks when deciding whether a planned surgery is appropriate.
Is 6 or 7 hours under anesthesia safe?
A six- or seven-hour operation may be appropriate for some patients, but the duration alone cannot determine whether it is safe for a particular person. Your surgeon and anesthesia provider should evaluate your health, the procedures being combined, expected blood loss and other risks before recommending a surgical plan.d your beauty. Don’t leave it to chance! Remember, the only bad question is the one you don’t ask.
