Minor surgery under local anaesthesia, category I complexity
Local anaesthesia is used for minor surgical procedures when only the area where the operation is performed needs to be numbed. The anaesthetic is administered directly into the tissues around the treatment area, after which the surgeon performs the necessary procedure. The patient remains awake, and after the operation receives recommendations on wound care and further recovery.
How does local anaesthesia work and what does the patient feel during surgery?
Local anaesthesia works directly in the area where the procedure is performed. The anaesthetic temporarily blocks the transmission of pain signals through the nerve fibres, allowing the patient to remain awake while the treated area becomes insensitive to pain. However, anaesthesia does not necessarily eliminate every sensation: during the procedure, you may still feel touch, movement of the tissues, pressure, or gentle pulling.
For many patients, the most noticeable part is the injection of the anaesthetic itself. The injection may cause a brief burning, stinging, or pressure-like sensation. Once the anaesthetic begins to take effect, the surgeon checks that the area is sufficiently numb before starting the main procedure.
It is important to understand the difference between pressure and pain. During surgery, you may be aware that the doctor is working in a particular area and feel the movement of instruments or tissues, but you should not experience sharp pain. If you do feel pain during the procedure, tell the doctor immediately. If necessary, the anaesthesia can be adjusted or additional anaesthetic can be administered.
The duration of local anaesthesia depends on the medication used, its concentration and volume, as well as the area being treated. After the procedure, sensation gradually returns. The numbness begins to wear off, followed by the return of normal sensation. At this stage, mild soreness or discomfort in the operated area may occur as the effects of the procedure become noticeable once the anaesthesia wears off.
While the treated area remains numb, it can be accidentally injured, burned, or overused, particularly if the procedure was performed on an arm or leg. It is therefore important to follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding activity and [postoperative wound care]. If sutures were placed, recovery may also involve wound dressings and wound care and subsequent suture removal.
Local anaesthesia is used not only for minor surgery. It may also be used for surgical removal of skin lesions, removal of atheromas, papillomas, and other lesions, wound treatment, and other outpatient surgical procedures. The specific anaesthetic approach always depends on the type and extent of the procedure and the area being treated.
Booking a consultation and minor surgery
From consultation to procedure – with a clear understanding of every step
Start with a surgeon consultation. During the appointment, you can discuss your concern, clarify the scope of the required procedure, and ask questions that often arise before surgery: whether it will be painful, how long the procedure will take, whether sutures will be needed, what recovery will involve, and when you can return to your usual routine.
If minor surgery under local anaesthesia is appropriate, you will know in advance what to expect during the procedure and what kind of aftercare may be required.
To book a consultation or procedure, call +380 97 312 92 91. Doctor Sam Medical Centre is located at Respublika Park Shopping Mall, 1 Kiltseva Road, Kyiv, near Teremky Metro Station, allowing you to arrange your consultation, the necessary procedure, and any follow-up surgical care in one medical centre.
