The majority of cosmetic surgical procedures will be done under general anesthesia , that is the patient has no awareness or pain during the surgery. The patient usually awakens within 10 to 15 minutes after the surgery, and spends approximately one to two hours in the recovery room following the surgery. Current anesthetic techniques involve both intravenous drugs and inhaled gases whose effects wear off quickly after surgery. Modern anti-nausea drugs lessen the percentage of patients who feel nauseated after surgery. Some cosmetic surgeries can be done under local anesthesia, or local anesthesia plus intravenous sedation.
Examples are eyelid surgery or some nasal reconstructions.
The simplest anesthetic plan will be chosen, depending on the duration of surgery, the needs of the surgeon, the preference of the individual patient, and the consultation of the anesthesiologist.