Open Accessibility Menu
Hide

Types of Anesthesia

What Type of Anesthesia Will You Need?

Many people believe that receiving anesthesia means they will be asleep during their surgical procedure, but in actuality, there are several types of anesthesia, and not all of them put you under for an operation. If you are undergoing a relatively simple, minimally invasive procedure, chances are you will only require a minimal amount of sedation applied to the surgical area.

Your surgery may require one of the following types of anesthesia:

  • Local anesthesia – In minor surgeries, local anesthesia is injected directly into the surgical site. This form of sedative only numbers the affected area; you will remain awake during the procedure.
  • Regional anesthesia – A regional anesthetic is used to numb the nerves in an entire bodily area such as the spine or abdomen. Regional anesthesia may take the form of a nerve block or epidural and is most often used for surgeries involving large organs or a cluster of body parts. This method does not put you to sleep, but your doctor may provide you with a sedative to help you relax.
  • General anesthesia – This is the most powerful form of anesthesia and puts patients to sleep during surgery. It is typically administered through a breathing mask or IV and used for complex, time-consuming surgeries such as a hip replacement. A breathing tube may be inserted into the windpipe while you are asleep and is not always removed before you wake up. Your anesthesiologist will greet you in the recovery room to help you get back on your feet.

Your anesthesiologist will tell you what kind of anesthesia will be used for your surgery well in advance of the procedure date. They will also tell you how you can prepare, which typically includes fasting for several hours before the surgery.

Patient Stories

  • “I can do everything I want to do—even on the dance floor, This hip surgery is the best thing that ever happened to me. I’d recommend Dr. Yoon to anyone.”

    Robert
    Read More
  • "I don’t know why I put it off. It was the best thing I ever did."

    Jim
    Read More
  • “People jumped through hoops for me. It just blew me away. They gave me my life back.”

    JoAnna
    Read More

Patient Stories

  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
RWJBarnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center
200 South Orange Avenue
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7000
View
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
94 Old Short Hills Road
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-5000
View
Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 222-5200
View
Clara Maass Medical Center
1 Clara Maass Drive
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 450-2000
View
Community Medical Center
99 Highway 37 West
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-8000
View
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Jersey City Medical Center
355 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2000
View
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at RWJUH
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
RWJ University Hospital Rahway
865 Stone Street
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 381-4200
View
RWJ University Hospital Somerset
110 Rehill Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 685-2200
View
Trinitas Regional Medical Center – Williamson Street Campus
225 Williamson St
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
(908) 994-5000
View
The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center
300 2nd Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7250
View
RWJ University Hospital Hamilton
1 Hamilton Health Place
Hamilton, NJ 08690
(609) 586-7900
View
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
600 River Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 363-1900
View
Short Hills Surgery Center
187 Millburn Avenue
Suite 102
Milburn, NJ 07041
(973) 671-0555
View
Hudson Crossing Surgery Center
2 Executive Drive
Suite 102
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
(201) 470-6977
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group at Monroe
800 Bunn Drive
Suite 303
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 655-5178
View

Surgery Treatment & Care

offered at these locations in your neighborhood

View All Locations