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Patients Stay Awake During Breast Implant Surgery

Reporting
Brooke Richie

DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ― A new procedure allows patients to stay awake during surgery.

It's not for the faint of heart, but some cosmetic surgeons say there are both safety and financial advantages to going under the knife without going under.

"It's a new procedure performed with the use of a remarkable medicine called Tumescent fluid," said Dr. Robert True, Aesthetics and Female Medicine.

The patient stays awake the entire time. Doctor True uses only a local anesthetic and sometimes a mild sedative.

"You walk in, you walk out. It's minimal downtime," he said.

Diane Bullard went to Dr. True in Arlington for breast implants and was intrigued by the idea of avoiding general anesthesia.

She allowed CBS 11 cameras to follow her through her surgery. She said she felt a little pinch during the procedure, but that's it.

Dr. True said the tumescent technique - commonly used for liposuction - reduces the chances of bleeding during surgery and bruising afterward.

Diane watched the entire surgery. She was awake enough to even adjust the size of her implants mid-surgery, so there would be no surprises.

The awake-breast augmentation generally costs less than the traditional approach, since an anesthesiologist and a surgery center aren't necessary. But not everyone thinks watching your doctor operate is a good idea.

"Certainly not, in my opinion, ideal from a patient's standpoint," said Dr. Randy Robbins, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. "I just don't think that most women would be comfortable awake during that procedure."

Anesthesiologist Randy Robbins is skeptical of the procedure, and doesn't necessarily think it's safer than general anesthesia.

"I just can't imagine that saving a few hundred bucks or even a thousand dollars would be worth that level of anxiety," he said.

But Diane said it was worth it. "I don't feel like I'm putting on a gunny sack anymore," she said. "It was different. Unique. And I loved it."

Because Tumescent fluid is commonly used, regulatory approval is not required for the awake breast augmentation. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons doesn't yet have a position on the procedure.