Some people who take a epidural complain about pain later, right in the spot where they got the shot. Seems they may tense up their muscles when getting it and for some reason they stay in that tight position, like they froze there. It is taken care of by releasing the muscles in your back so it’s not too bad as long as you know how to release them. The only thing I know of to tell you about problems.
I’d suggest general if you’re getting the full abdominoplasty (the real name for “tummy tuck”). That procedure involves dissecting tissue right up to the sternum (breastbone), and your epidural might not go that high. It’s doable under epidural anesthesia, but unless there is a compelling reason not to use general, I think you’d be taking a chance on having some very uncomfortable moments.
Also, most abdominoplasties take 3-5 hours to do. That’s a long time to be still and awake, even with sedation.
You could actually have both – the epidural taking care of most of the pain, and a light general anesthetic to keep you from getting too bored or fidgety.
I anesthetize people for these often, and I use general anesthesia. I let the patients breathe on their own, and my surgeon uses a lot of local anesthetic so that the wakeup is quick and relatively painless.
If you’re basically healthy, the risks are pretty even. If you’re a smoker with Swiss cheese for lungs, then you’re better off with the epidural.
Best of luck with whatever you choose – I’m already jealous of your flat belly
Some people who take a epidural complain about pain later, right in the spot where they got the shot. Seems they may tense up their muscles when getting it and for some reason they stay in that tight position, like they froze there. It is taken care of by releasing the muscles in your back so it’s not too bad as long as you know how to release them. The only thing I know of to tell you about problems.
I’d suggest general if you’re getting the full abdominoplasty (the real name for “tummy tuck”). That procedure involves dissecting tissue right up to the sternum (breastbone), and your epidural might not go that high. It’s doable under epidural anesthesia, but unless there is a compelling reason not to use general, I think you’d be taking a chance on having some very uncomfortable moments.
Also, most abdominoplasties take 3-5 hours to do. That’s a long time to be still and awake, even with sedation.
You could actually have both – the epidural taking care of most of the pain, and a light general anesthetic to keep you from getting too bored or fidgety.
I anesthetize people for these often, and I use general anesthesia. I let the patients breathe on their own, and my surgeon uses a lot of local anesthetic so that the wakeup is quick and relatively painless.
If you’re basically healthy, the risks are pretty even. If you’re a smoker with Swiss cheese for lungs, then you’re better off with the epidural.
Best of luck with whatever you choose – I’m already jealous of your flat belly