Facelift with a Local Anesthetic?

For many people, the idea of having a facelift carried out under local anesthetic – while they are wide awake – might seem daunting. However, for some patients, having a facelift with local anesthetic is their preferred choice. An article in the UK Daily Mail profiled Frances Carter, a 52-year-old former nurse, who decided to have her facelift with local anesthesia.

Frances Carter: In Her Own Words

“For the past two to three years, I had been thinking about having a facelift because I was unhappy with the way I looked. Three years ago, I went on a diet and dropped from a size 14 to a size eight in just three months.

“Although I was delighted to be slim, the diet took its toll on my face. Every time I put on makeup, I could see huge bags under my eyes… My chin had dropped and there were creases at the side of my face. But even though I desperately wanted a face and eyelift, I was too scared to consider a general anesthetic.”

Facelift Surgery with a Local Anesthetic

Frances changed her mind when she saw a TV program about a Harley Street surgeon who regularly performs facelift surgeries under local anesthetic. She was given a pain relief tablet, then a sedative injection in her hand, before the local anesthetic was finally administered.

“The needle going in was the only thing I felt throughout the operation,” she told the Daily Mail, “but even that was just a pressure rather than an acute pain.”

Frances found the entire procedure quite comfortable. The surgeon “talked me through each stage and explained what he was doing,” Frances said. “That definitely helped to make me feel more in control of the procedure.”

The operation took 2 1/2 hours and was a complete success. While facelift surgery with a local anesthetic isn’t right for everybody, it’s perfect for people like Frances – people who want to stay awake and in control of their procedures.