Local Anesthetic

Local anesthetic is medication that numbs the area of the body where the surgery is set to be performed by blocking signals from peripheral nerves. It is usually administered by an injection of medicine such as lidocaine while the patient is still conscious. They should only feel a pinch from the injection, not a sensation of pain. Local anesthetic should not be confused with general anesthesia, which puts the patient under.

The purpose of local anesthetics is to perform surgeries more quickly and accurately. Doctors need less preparation to perform operations on numb areas and patients can remain conscious and pain-free while the operation takes place. This prevents unnecessary recovery time and the safety logistics of using anesthesia, which can be saved for more serious procedures.

In addition to numbing an area of the body prior to surgery, local anesthetics can be used to relieve pain after the surgery to ease the recovery process.