All articles tagged with #awake surgery
Jen, 41, who shed 180 pounds on GLP-1, underwent an awake arm lift (brachioplasty) to remove excess skin—about four to five hours under local anesthesia with laughing gas—performed by Dr. Zachary Willis. She shared the journey on TikTok, says the experience wasn’t scary, and hopes to normalize weight-loss–related surgeries as awake options grow with GLP-1 use, with plans for a future awake breast lift.
NYC patients are increasingly choosing awake cosmetic surgeries—facelifts and related procedures done under local anesthesia with light sedation—allowing them to wake during the operation and walk out the same day. Proponents say this reduces anesthesia risks, pre-op testing, and costs, while critics warn about pain, patient movement, and questions of safety and standard of care for longer procedures. The approach is rising for shorter, less invasive surgeries, though experts emphasize careful patient selection and monitoring.
Musician Christian Nolen played his guitar during brain surgery to help doctors protect his hand movement while they removed a tumor. The awake surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine allowed for real-time testing of his dexterity, ensuring the tumor removal didn't harm his ability to play. This approach also offers benefits such as improved outcomes and shorter hospital stays for patients undergoing brain surgery. Nolen, who has been playing guitar since he was 13, successfully passed his dexterity tests and is now back to playing his beloved instrument after the surgery.