“What kind of anesthesia is used for a lumpectomy?”

Usually, local anesthesia is used.

The choice of the anesthetic depends on the size of the breast lump and the medical condition of the patient. In a healthy 45-year-old female with small sized breast lump, injection of local anesthetic on the breast skin and immediate breast tissue around the breast lump would be sufficient. With moderate-sized breast lump, conscious sedation can be added to the
local anesthetic. Larger breast lump might require general anesthesia.

Local with IV sedation or general anesthesia

There are several options depending on the location and size of the mass. It can be done under local anesthesia with light sedation or under general anesthesia.  

It can be either local with or without sedation, or general anesthesia, depends on your wishes and health history.

Hi,

Local, regional, and general anesthesia may be used for lumpectomy. The choice of anesthesia depends on the size and location of the lump to be removed. If the size is small, the best is to use local anesthesia. If it is a large size lump, and it is in the lower extremities (legs and thighs), spinal anesthesia or general anesthesia may be used. Since you are a female, and it is possible the lump may be in the breast, now depending on the size of the lump, local anesthesia for removal of small size lumps, and general anesthesia for removal of large size lumps may be used. Similarly, if the lump is on the neck, chest wall, or abdominal wall, or on the back, depending on the size of the lump, local or general anesthesia may be used to remove the lump.

With best wishes,

M. Tabatabai, MD

General anesthesia