Anesthesia Options in Bellevue & Seattle

Learn about the different anesthesia options available and how we tailor each approach to your comfort, safety, and procedure.

Dr. Young

Understanding Your Anesthesia Options

At Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery, we offer multiple levels of anesthesia depending on the procedure and your personal preferences. In general, the more involved the procedure, the deeper level of anesthesia may be recommended. Our goal is to create a plan that is both safe and comfortable, tailored specifically to you.

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Local Anesthesia (Minimal Sedation)

Local anesthesia is typically used for less invasive procedures, such as:

Minor scar revisions
Small lesion removal
Select rhinoplasty procedures
Fillers and Botox®
Some eyelid or ear procedures
Minor lip procedures

This option is best for patients who are comfortable being awake during treatment. For added relaxation, oral sedation (such as Valium) may be used. If any sedative is taken, a caretaker is required to accompany you after your procedure for safety.

IV Sedation (Most Common Option)

Intravenous (IV) sedation is commonly used for procedures such as:

Facelift and neck lift
Rhinoplasty
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)
Otoplasty (ear surgery)
Facial implants
Fat grafting
Laser resurfacing and dermabrasion

With IV sedation, you are in a deeply relaxed state and may have little to no memory of the procedure. This method is used in approximately 95% of cases due to its balance of comfort, safety, and recovery time.

IV Sedation with CRNA (Deeper Sedation)

For a deeper level of sedation, IV anesthesia may be administered by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). This approach uses medications such as Versed, Fentanyl, Propofol, and Ketamine to achieve a state where you are essentially asleep. This option is used less frequently but may be appropriate for certain patients or procedures.

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General Anesthesia

General anesthesia is the deepest level of sedation, during which you are fully asleep and require a breathing tube.

This option involves an anesthesiologist and is typically reserved for more extensive procedures. It is used in a small percentage of cases (approximately 2–4%).

Summary of Anesthesia Levels

We offer four levels of anesthesia:

Oral sedation – rarely used
IV sedation (nurse-administered) – most common
IV sedation with CRNA – deeper sedation option
General anesthesia – deepest level, used selectively

During your consultation, we will help determine the best option for your needs.

Safety & Medical Evaluation

From a health standpoint, we typically operate on patients classified as ASA Physical Status 1 or 2 (healthy or mild systemic disease). A pre-procedure appointment is scheduled approximately two weeks before surgery to review your medical history and ensure safety. Patients over age 50—or younger patients with certain medical conditions—may require clearance from a primary care physician or specialist.

ASA Physical Status Classification System

ASA 1: Healthy patient with no medical conditions
ASA 2: Mild systemic disease (e.g., controlled hypertension or diabetes)
ASA 3: More significant medical conditions with some limitations
ASA 4: Severe disease posing a constant threat to life
ASA 5: Critically ill patients not expected to survive without surgery
ASA 6: Brain-dead patient for organ donation

“My goal was to find a method to bring back a person’s natural youthfulness without the operated, unnatural look, and that is why I have my patients bring in photos of themselves when they were ages 5 to 30. My YoungVitalizer helps restore natural and youthful contours they haven’t seen in years.”

— Dr. Philip Young

Have Questions About Anesthesia?

Choosing the right anesthesia is an important part of your experience. During your consultation, we will walk you through your options and help you feel confident in your care plan.