Insights

How long until you go home?

Published recovery-room times range from under an hour to about four hours, depending on the operation.

Procedures · 2 min read

Different operations, different timelines. In published series of awake or regional-based approaches:

  • Breast augmentation with local, nerve blocks and IV sedation: mean recovery-room time about 50 minutes (171 patients).
  • Subglandular breast augmentation under tumescent anesthesia and sedation: about 125 minutes (150 patients).
  • Abdominoplasty with tumescent plus spinal anesthesia: about 240 minutes (106 patients).

These are single-practice series using different methods, so do not compare them as a league table. They do show that a short stay in recovery is a realistic goal for many awake operations.

Plan for it: you will still need a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you after sedation. See the preparation guide.

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References

  1. Colque A, Eisemann ML. Breast augmentation and augmentation-mastopexy with local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. Aesthet Surg J. 2012;303-307. PMID 22290411
  2. Rusciani A, Pietramaggiori G, Troccola A. The outcome of primary subglandular breast augmentation using tumescent local anesthesia. Ann Plast Surg. 2016;13-17. PMID 26670133
  3. Tettamanzi M, Sanna C, Liperi C, et al. Outcomes of abdominoplasty in tumescent local anesthesia combined with subdural anesthesia. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2024;361-368. PMID 38129353