LOCAL: A local anesthetic creates numbness to a specific area of the body. This occurs by injecting an area of the body with a medication that causes the numbness.

REGIONAL: Your surgeon or anesthesiologist may suggest that you receive a regional anesthetic or “nerve block” which will also be helpful in controlling your post-operative pain. Depending on the type of surgery, a regional anesthetic is injecting local anesthetic to one or several nerves resulting in numbness to a major area of the body (i.e. your arm, leg, shoulder, etc.). This numbness may last 1 to 36 hours depending on the type of surgery an individual needs. IV sedation is usually administered along with a regional nerve block.

MONITORED ANESTHESIA CARE (MAC):  This means you will be given sedation through an IV to help you relax and a local anesthetic will be administered into the surgical area. You will feel little to no discomfort during your surgery. Patients are given IV sedation based on the type of surgery an individual needs.

GENERAL ANESTHESIA:  General anesthesia is administered through an IV, inhaled gases or both. The result is a state of unconsciousness. You will not be awake or feel discomfort. 

All patients, with the exception of the patients receiving “local anesthesia”, will meet with an anesthesiologist in the Holding Room on the day of surgery. Your anesthesiologist will review your plan of care with you and answer any questions you may have.