Stoker Plastic Surgery: David Stoker, MD
4640 Admiralty Way #1000
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Phone: (310) 300-1779
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
My liposuction patients from Santa Monica and the Los Angeles area have several options for anesthesia. For those interested in treating only one or two areas of their body, local anesthesia is a great option. Typically, more anesthesia is desirable when treating multiple areas or removing larger volumes of fat. In my consultations with patients, I help them prioritize their goals and understand their best options, including anesthesia.
| For Your Liposuction: |
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| He’s written 2 textbook chapters on liposuction, sharing his knowledge with future plastic surgeons. |
| He regularly teaches liposuction courses at meetings of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS). |
| He was named as a top surgeon in liposuction by The New York Times. |
| He’s pioneered some of today’s most popular liposuction techniques, such as power-assisted liposuction (PAL). |
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OKKeep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
The types of anesthesia I use for liposuction procedures in my practice include:
Local anesthesia helps to minimize the hassle of small surgical procedures for patients. It reduces the necessary preparation, side effects, and downtime from surgery.
The local anesthesia I use is a two-step process. I first inject the access incision sites with concentrated lidocaine. The needle is tiny and relatively painless. Once numb, I infuse a large amount of dilute local anesthesia solution into the fatty layers of tissue. I usually chat with the patient during this process so that they’re distracted. Most patients report afterward that they found the process easy and tolerable. My extensive experience is very helpful in making this a smooth process for my patients.
Some patients want sedation when they’re having liposuction, but want to avoid general anesthesia. Twilight anesthesia involves intravenous sedation in addition to local anesthesia as described above. If deep sedation is required for patient comfort, it’s usually better to use a light general anesthesia with an anesthesiologist.
Our board-certified M.D. anesthesiologists commonly administer a light general anesthesia for liposuction patients. The patients are given medications in low doses that are just enough for the patient to drift off to sleep. Then the anesthesiologist places a mask in the patient’s mouth to monitor their breathing. At that point I infuse a large amount of dilute local anesthesia solution into the fatty layers so that a minimal amount of general anesthesia is required for the patient to remain asleep. After I complete the liposuction procedure, the patient awakens with no recollection of the surgery. They’re typically walking within 30 minutes.
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For major body contouring procedures such as tummy tucks and body lifts, it is often advantageous for the anesthesiologist to relax the patient’s muscles during surgery. When necessary, this deeper level of sedation allows me to perform these larger procedures in the safest manner possible. I use only board certified M.D. anesthesiologists for general anesthesia.
I use modern anesthesia equipment to keep my patients safe and comfortable. I only operate in certified surgical facilities that also meet my own rigorous standards for excellence. This includes an experienced team of nurses and support staff who assist me in doing the best job possible for my patients.
To learn more about liposuction surgery, request a consultation online or call our office at (310) 300-1779.
Our expertise extends beyond plastic surgery. We offer an extensive range of non-surgical treatments administered by our talented, experienced team of aesthetic providers under the guidance of board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Stoker.
If you have a treatment in mind, review our complete offering of non-surgical services. If you need a little help deciding, narrow down your options with our interactive treatment planner.
