Anesthesia for liposuction in dermatologic surgery

Liposuction is now a well-established procedure in dermatologic surgery. The relative advantages and risks of the various forms of primary anesthesia and supplemental analgesia used for liposuction surgery in the office by dermatologic surgeons is described. Effective anesthetic techniques include infiltration of local anesthesia (LA) with or without intramuscular (IM), intravenous (IV), or nitrous oxide sedation, cryoanesthesia, and IV or inhalation general anesthesia (GA). Local anesthesia, using large volumes of dilute anesthetic solution containing lidocaine (0.05%), epinephrine (1:1,000,000), and sodium bicarbonate (12.5 meq/L), is a safe and effective modality for liposuction by dermatologists. In a study of 12 liposuction patients treated with this technique, the average lidocaine dose was 1181 mg (9.4 mg/kg/hr). The highest peak lidocaine blood level among all patients was 0.484 microgram/ml. Dermatologists should not assume the dual responsibility of surgeon and of monitoring patients given IV sedation. Any form of anesthesia has the potential for serious complications. The surgeon and office staff must be well trained and equipped to perform emergency resuscitation.