FAQ Anesthesia:

Here you’ll find answers

to the most frequently asked questions

At the Wolff & Edusei clinic, we offer different types of anesthesia, chosen based on the nature of the planned procedure. We want to ensure that you feel safe and well cared for during your treatment. The options include:

• General anesthesia – During this procedure, you are completely asleep and unconscious throughout the treatment. This method is often used for more extensive procedures that require complete insensitivity to pain.
• Twilight sedation (analgosedation) – You are in a relaxed state and perceive the procedure only to a limited extent. This method is often combined with local anesthesia of the surgical area. You are able to breathe on your own, and your reflexes remain intact, so you can respond at any time if necessary.

The main difference between general anesthesia and twilight sedation lies in the depth of sedation and the level of awareness:

• Under general anesthesia, you are deeply asleep and completely unaware during the entire procedure. You are fully unconscious and receive intensive medical monitoring throughout the surgery.
• Under twilight sedation, you are relaxed and perceive little of the procedure, while your breathing and reflexes remain intact. You are in a lightly sedated state but can still respond to requests if necessary.

Not every procedure can be performed under twilight sedation. If the procedure is expected to involve a higher level of pain and therefore requires deeper sedation, general anesthesia is usually recommended. We always review together with you whether twilight sedation and local anesthesia are sufficient to ensure a low-pain treatment.

Yes, if necessary, twilight sedation can be converted into general anesthesia at any time. Our anesthesiologists have the ability to adjust the type of anesthesia during the procedure to ensure that you experience the surgery as comfortably as possible.

To ensure safety during anesthesia, you must not eat any solid food for at least 6 hours before the procedure. Dairy products, such as milk or yogurt, are also considered food and should not be consumed. This precaution is intended to minimize the risk of complications during anesthesia and ensure that the procedure goes smoothly.

Yes, up to 6 hours before the procedure, you may still have clear fluids. These include water, tea, or black coffee (with sugar if desired). These fluids help maintain hydration. However, dairy products or fruit juices must be avoided. During the last hour before the surgery, you must not drink anything.

Yes, to increase safety during anesthesia and support the healing process, you should stop smoking at least 2 hours before the surgery. Smoking can affect the effectiveness of the anesthesia and make healing after the procedure more difficult. Therefore, we recommend refraining from smoking for several days before the surgery and throughout the entire healing period.

We want you to feel well-informed and safe. Therefore, we usually conduct the anesthesia consultation by phone about one week before the surgery. Our anesthesiologist will call you for this purpose. If you prefer an in-person consultation at our clinic, we will be happy to arrange this by appointment.

During the anesthesia consultation, your anesthesiologist will always ask whether you are taking any regular medication. Our specialists and anesthesiologists at the Wolff & Edusei clinic will clarify which medications you can continue taking before the surgery and which you may need to stop. This ensures that your treatment proceeds smoothly and that no interactions occur.

On the day of twilight sedation or general anesthesia, you are not allowed to actively and independently participate in road traffic, meaning you must not operate any vehicles yourself and should also avoid using public transportation. Please ensure that you are picked up by a companion in a car, as this contributes to your safety.

Yes, after a general anesthesia or twilight sedation, it is important to have a caregiver at home who can take care of you. They should be able to assist you at least until the next morning to ensure your safety and well-being.

No, nail polish does not need to be removed for anesthesia. However, it is advisable to check your nails so that we can ensure proper medical monitoring of oxygen saturation during the procedure. Nail polish that is too thick could affect the accuracy of the measurement.