Question: Where is the facelift performed? Does it need to be done in the hospital?
Answer: A facelift can be performed in various settings with different degrees of anesthesia. The decision on where and how to perform a facelift is a matter of patient and/or surgeon preference. A facelift can be safely performed in an office procedure room under local anesthesia only, although many plastic surgeons choose to do this surgery in an operating room with general anesthesia. Many operating rooms are located in accredited outpatient surgery centers, rather than hospitals. Oftentimes, patients will be sedated with IV medications and given local anesthesia for the procedure. This strategy avoids the cost and potential complications associated with general anesthesia, while at the same time keeping the patient safe and comfortable.