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Anesthesia & Surgery Recovery

What to expect from general, regional and local anesthesia and sedation — how to prepare, the common side effects, the rare risks, and how to recover well.

What is anesthesia?

Anesthesia is medicine that keeps you from feeling pain during surgery or a procedure. Some types numb one area of the body; general anesthesia puts you into a sleep-like state in which you feel nothing (Cleveland Clinic, MedlinePlus). Millions of people in the U.S. receive anesthesia safely every year (Cleveland Clinic), and most people recover completely without problems (MedlinePlus).

The four main types

Which type you get depends on the procedure, your health and your preferences (ASA). For more complex care, an anesthesiologist (a medical doctor) or a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) gives the anesthetic and watches your breathing, heart and blood pressure throughout (Cleveland Clinic, MedlinePlus).

Common side effects

Most side effects are minor and wear off within about a day, often sooner (Cleveland Clinic). After general anesthesia you may wake up groggy, with nausea or vomiting, a dry mouth, chills, muscle aches, or a sore throat from the breathing tube (MedlinePlus, ASA). Shivering affects up to half of people as they wake up. A spinal or epidural can occasionally cause a headache a few days later, or make it hard to pass urine for a while (ASA). Tell your team if you feel sick — nausea can be treated with medicine (MedlinePlus).

Confusion after surgery in older adults

Postoperative delirium — temporary confusion, disorientation and trouble paying attention — is one of the most common complications after surgery in older adults. It may not start until a few days afterward, can come and go, and usually clears in about a week (ASA); in people over 65 it can last several days (Cleveland Clinic). Less often, longer-lasting memory and thinking problems (postoperative cognitive dysfunction) occur, mainly in older people and those with heart disease, a past stroke, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease (ASA, Cleveland Clinic).

Rare but serious risks

  • Malignant hyperthermia is a rare inherited reaction to certain anesthetic gases and a muscle relaxant, causing a fast rise in body temperature and severe muscle stiffness. It runs in families, and untreated episodes can be fatal, so tell your team if you or any relative has had it or a bad reaction to anesthesia (MedlinePlus, ASA).
  • Awareness during general anesthesia happens in only one or two of every 1,000 procedures. People usually don’t feel pain, but it can be upsetting; it is more likely in emergency surgery and in people with several health conditions (ASA).
  • Other rare problems include allergic reactions, breathing or heart rhythm problems, and nerve injury from a numbing injection (MedlinePlus, Cleveland Clinic).

Risk can be higher if you smoke, drink two or more alcoholic drinks a day, or have conditions such as diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disease, obesity, sleep apnea, seizures or a past stroke (ASA). That is why your anesthesia team asks so many questions.

Feeling nervous is normal

Worry before surgery is very common. Anesthesiologists want to hear about your fears — including fear of waking up during surgery — so they can plan your care and answer your questions (ASA, ASA). See Massage therapy and MBHA Wellness Coach below for calming ideas.

After surgery — call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, or fainting. These can be signs that a blood clot has traveled to the lungs; recent surgery raises the risk of clots (MedlinePlus).

Call your surgeon or care team promptly if you notice:

Always follow the discharge instructions your own surgeon gives you.

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) A pre-anesthesia review of your health, medicines and supplements; fasting and medication instructions; the anesthetic itself with constant monitoring; then a recovery room, medicines for nausea and pain, and a plan for going home. Without insurance, regional or general anesthesia often runs about $500–$3,500 or more; local anesthesia is often under $500 or included in the procedure price. Medicare Part B generally covers needed anesthesia (you pay 20% after the deductible). Anesthesia is usually billed separately from the surgeon and facility. Most side effects wear off within a day. Have someone with you for at least the first 24 hours after general anesthesia. Older adults may have temporary confusion that usually clears in about a week.
Chiropractic Being researched — coming soon.
Acupuncture Stimulating the P6 (PC6) point on the inner wrist — with needles or a pressure wristband — to help prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery. Acupuncture about $125–$230 for a first visit and $90–$185 for follow-ups; community clinics about $50–$90. Acupressure wristbands: cost estimate being researched. One of the most-studied complementary approaches in surgery. Cochrane reviews of dozens of trials find it may reduce nausea and vomiting, though the certainty of the evidence is rated low. Side effects are minor. Use with, not instead of, your team’s anti-nausea plan.
Herbal medicine Mainly a safety step: telling your team about every herb and supplement, and stopping those that can raise bleeding risk or change how anesthesia works when your team says to. No cost — the key step is an honest list for your anesthesia team. Garlic, ginkgo and ginseng may increase bleeding; kava and valerian may deepen sedation; St. John’s wort speeds the breakdown of many medicines. Don’t self-treat with herbs before or after surgery.
Massage therapy Gentle massage, often of the hands, feet, back or shoulders, to ease pain and tension after surgery, alongside pain medicine. About $50–$90 for 45–60 minutes at clinics and spas; private therapists about $60–$120. Reviews of trials suggest a modest drop in pain after surgery, mostly heart and chest surgery; results for anxiety are mixed and study quality is low. Ask your surgeon first.
MBHA Wellness Coach Getting ready: stopping smoking, staying active, eating and sleeping well, preparing your home and helpers, writing down questions for the anesthesiologist, and calming practices. Cost estimate being researched. The 1-800-QUIT-NOW quitline is free. Practical preparation that anesthesiologists recommend to help surgery go smoothly and recovery go faster. Quitting smoking helps even shortly before surgery.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

Your anesthesia team’s job is to keep you safe and comfortable before, during and after your procedure. Careful preparation on your part helps them do it.

1. The pre-anesthesia conversation

Before surgery, you’ll be asked about your health and history. Be ready to share (ASA):

2. Fasting and medicines before surgery

  • Follow your fasting instructions exactly. Unless you’re having only local anesthesia, you’ll be told when to stop eating and drinking, because of the rare risk of stomach contents entering the lungs. You may be allowed clear liquids for a while (ASA). For general anesthesia this is commonly about eight hours (Cleveland Clinic), but your own team’s timing comes first.
  • Don’t stop prescription medicines on your own. About a week before surgery you may be asked to stop blood thinners and products such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and vitamin E; ask which medicines to take on the day, with a small sip of water (MedlinePlus). These decisions belong to your doctors at your pre-op visit (Cleveland Clinic).

3. During and right after

Your vital signs are watched throughout, and problems such as allergic reactions are treated on the spot (Cleveland Clinic). Afterward you wake up in a recovery room where staff monitor your breathing and heart; the anesthesiologist can give medicine for nausea, chills or pain. Most people go home or to a hospital room within a few hours (ASA). Pain may increase as general anesthesia wears off after a major operation, and your team will adjust your pain plan (ASA).

4. Going home

  • Arrange a ride: you can’t drive or take public transport alone after general anesthesia or sedation. Have someone stay with you for at least the first 24 hours after general anesthesia, or several hours after sedation (ASA).
  • For 24 hours, don’t drive or use machinery, drink alcohol, make important decisions, or take medicines or supplements your provider hasn’t approved (Cleveland Clinic). Don’t drive while taking opioid pain medicine (ASA).
  • After local anesthesia alone, most people can return to normal activities unless told otherwise (Cleveland Clinic).

5. Protecting an older adult’s thinking

Anesthesiologists suggest asking about a pre-surgery memory check; reviewing medicines that act on the brain (for anxiety, sleep, seizures or muscle spasms); making sure glasses and hearing aids are returned as soon as possible after the procedure; bringing a family photo or familiar item for an overnight stay; and having a relative or friend stay close, watch for changes in thinking and report them (ASA).

What it costs — and how billing works

  • Separate bills. Regional and general anesthesia are usually billed separately from the surgeon and the facility; local anesthesia is often bundled into the procedure. Anesthesia fees are based partly on the time involved, counted in 15-minute units, plus the complexity of the procedure (cost guide: The Pricer). Anesthesiologists’ claims also reflect your overall health and complicating factors such as age (ASA).
  • Without insurance: regional or general anesthesia often runs about $500–$3,500 or more, and local anesthesia is often under $500 (cost guide, updated 2026: The Pricer). These are examples, not a quote.
  • Medicare Part B typically covers medically necessary anesthesia; you generally pay 20% of the approved amount after the deductible. Medicaid coverage varies by state, usually with little or no out-of-pocket cost (ASA).
  • Check early. Call your insurer two to four weeks ahead, confirm that the facility and every provider are in network, ask for an anesthesia cost estimate, and keep a note of each call (ASA, ASA).

Your rights under the No Surprises Act. If you have health coverage and are treated at an in-network hospital or surgery center, an out-of-network anesthesiologist can’t send you a surprise bill or charge you more than your in-network cost-sharing; most emergency care is protected the same way. If you are uninsured or paying yourself, you can usually get a good faith estimate before care, and may be able to dispute a bill that is $400 or more above it. Questions or complaints: the federal help desk at 1-800-985-3059 (CMS). The law doesn’t cover every unexpected charge, so an estimate up front still helps (ASA).

How well it works — what to expect

Modern equipment, medicines and safety standards make anesthesia generally safe, and most people recover completely (MedlinePlus). Grogginess, nausea and a sore throat usually fade within hours (MedlinePlus).

Find a medical doctor in our directory

Approach 3 of 6

Acupuncture

Pressing or needling a point on the inner wrist known as P6 (also written PC6) is one of the best-studied complementary approaches anywhere in surgery. It is used to help prevent nausea and vomiting after an operation — one of the most common side effects of anesthesia (Cochrane review).

What the research says

  • 2015 Cochrane review (59 trials, 7,667 people): compared with sham treatment, P6 stimulation reduced nausea, vomiting and the need for rescue anti-nausea medicine. Because the trials varied a lot, the reviewers rated this evidence low quality. Compared with standard anti-nausea drugs, P6 worked about as well, with moderate-quality evidence (Cochrane review, 2015).
  • 2025 Cochrane update (77 trials, 9,847 people): both needle acupuncture and no-needle methods such as acupressure wristbands may reduce nausea and vomiting after surgery compared with sham, and combining P6 with anti-nausea medicine may help most and likely reduces the need for extra medicine. Confidence in most of these findings was rated low (Cochrane review, 2025).
  • Pain after surgery: a 2016 review of 11 studies found that people treated with acupuncture or related techniques had less pain the day after surgery and used fewer opioids (NCCIH).

In short: P6 stimulation is a reasonable, low-risk addition to — not a replacement for — the anti-nausea plan your anesthesia team gives you. Let them know ahead of time if you’d like to use a wristband or have acupuncture.

Safety

No serious or long-lasting complications were reported in the Cochrane trials; side effects were minor and passed, such as skin irritation, redness or swelling (Cochrane review). For needle acupuncture, choose a licensed practitioner who uses sterile, single-use needles (NCCIH).

What it costs

Private acupuncture sessions run about $125–$230 for a first visit and $90–$185 for follow-ups; community clinics about $50–$90 a visit (The Pricer). Acupressure wristbands: MBHA cost estimate being researched.

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

For surgery, herbs are mainly a safety question. Some supplements may increase bleeding or change how your body responds to anesthesia, so the NIH advises telling your health care providers about every supplement you take, as far ahead of the operation as possible (NCCIH).

Supplements that commonly raise concern

Much of this advice comes from what is known about how these herbs work and from case reports — there haven’t been trials testing them around surgery (University of Chicago Medicine).

Stop supplements only as your surgical team directs. Memorial Sloan Kettering, for example, asks patients to stop herbal remedies and other supplements 7 days before surgery and to restart only when their provider says it is safe; your own team may give a different timeline (Memorial Sloan Kettering). Bring your actual bottles or a written list to your pre-op visit (ASA). We don’t list doses here.

Ginger for nausea?

Ginger is popular for nausea, but the NIH says it is uncertain whether it adds anything to standard treatment for nausea after surgery (NCCIH). Because you’ll be fasting and may be asked to stop supplements, check with your team before taking any ginger product around surgery.

Approach 5 of 6

Massage therapy

Many people find massage and other relaxation techniques help with pain (ASA), and gentle massage is offered in some hospitals after surgery. It works alongside your pain medicine, not instead of it.

What the research says

Safety

Massage is generally low-risk, but rare serious problems — including a blood clot, nerve injury or broken bone — have been reported, often with vigorous deep-tissue work or in frail, older people (NCCIH). After surgery, ask your surgeon before booking, keep pressure away from incisions, drains and IV sites, and tell the therapist about your operation and any blood thinners. Choose gentle techniques.

What it costs

About $50–$90 for 45–60 minutes at gyms, clinics and spas, and about $60–$120 with a private therapist; these figures may be dated (CostHelper).

Find a massage therapist in our directory

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

Anesthesiologists say that taking care of your health, learning about your procedure and knowing what to expect can help you feel more prepared and heal faster (ASA). An MBHA Wellness Coach can help you turn that into a plan.

In the weeks before

Getting your home and helpers ready

  • Line up a driver and someone to stay with you for at least the first 24 hours after general anesthesia (ASA).
  • Ask your provider what help you’ll need with bathing, meals, errands and appointments, and whether a trained caregiver can come in if no one can stay the first week or two (MedlinePlus).
  • Keep everyday items between waist and shoulder height, keep a phone within reach, clear loose rugs and cords, add night lights, and consider grab bars and a shower chair (MedlinePlus).
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothes on the day and leave jewelry at home (ASA).

Questions to take to your anesthesiologist

Write your questions down and bring a friend or relative to take notes (ASA). For example:

Calming pre-surgery nerves

  • Tell your anesthesiologist what worries you — they expect to talk about it (ASA).
  • Meditation, prayer and other practices that matter to you can help you through the stress of surgery (Cleveland Clinic).
  • Knowing exactly what will happen on the day — arrival time, fasting, who drives you home — takes away many unknowns. A coach can help you build that checklist.

Still being researched: Chiropractic. We add each approach once its costs and results are sourced. Are you a practitioner with experience treating Anesthesia & Surgery Recovery? Tell us.

Member stories

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This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

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