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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 (MedlinePlus). Modern anesthetics are typically very safe (NIH), and most side effects are minor and temporary (ASA).

The four main types

Which type you get depends on the procedure, your health and your preferences (ASA). For some procedures a dentist, nurse or doctor gives the anesthetic; for others you need an anesthesiologist, a doctor who specializes in anesthesia (MedlinePlus). During general anesthesia someone from the anesthesia team stays with you the whole time, watching your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels (NHS).

Common side effects

Most side effects are minor and usually get better within a few minutes or hours, though the effects of a general anesthetic can last around 24 hours (NHS). 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 (NHS, 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 (NHS).

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 some people over 60 it can last several days (MedlinePlus). 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, ASA).

Rare but serious risks

  • Malignant hyperthermia is a rare inherited reaction to certain anesthetic gases, alone or with a muscle relaxant, causing a fast rise in heart rate and body temperature and stiff muscles. It runs in families, and without prompt treatment it can be life-threatening, so tell your team if you or any relative has had it or a bad reaction to anesthesia (MedlinePlus Genetics, 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, NHS).

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, sudden or severe trouble breathing, coughing up blood, a very fast heartbeat, or fainting. These can be signs that a blood clot has traveled to the lungs (NHS); the risk of clots is highest after major surgery (NHLBI).

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. At one national chain, about $125–$160 for a 60-minute massage for non-members, or a membership of about $70–$90 a month; prices vary by location. 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). Some teams say nothing after midnight; others give a cut-off a few hours before (ASA, NHS). Your own team’s timing comes first.
  • Don’t stop prescription medicines on your own. Your team will tell you whether to keep taking your usual medicines (NHS). You may be asked to stop products that affect bleeding, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and vitamin E, for a set time before surgery — but don’t stop aspirin unless your provider tells you to (Memorial Sloan Kettering). These decisions belong to your doctors at your pre-op visit (ASA).

3. During and right after

Your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels are watched throughout (NHS), and your anesthesiologist plans ahead for side effects or complications that are more likely for you (ASA). 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 at least 24 hours after general anesthesia, don’t drive, cook, use machinery, drink alcohol, smoke, care for children on your own, or make important decisions (NHS). Don’t drive while taking opioid pain medicine (ASA).
  • After local anesthesia alone, you can usually go home as soon as you feel well enough (ASA). Ask whether you should have someone drive you home (NHS).

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

Surgery and anesthesia are safer today than ever before, though no procedure is risk-free (ASA), and modern anesthetics are typically very safe (NIH). Drowsiness, nausea and a sore throat usually get better within minutes or hours (NHS).

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

Prices vary by location. At one national chain, franchise price lists show about $125–$160 for a 60-minute massage for non-members and about $65–$90 for members, whose memberships run about $70–$90 a month (The Pricer). Tips are extra.

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

  • Stop smoking — any time is worth it. Smoking raises the risk of breathing problems, pneumonia, wound infection and heart attack around surgery. Quitting even the day before lowers the risk, and a week or more is better (ASA). The free quitline 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) connects you with a counselor (ASA).
  • Move more (“prehabilitation”). Be as active as you safely can before surgery (ASA), including exercise that raises your heart rate if you can (NHS). Check with your doctor what is safe for you.
  • Eat well, and follow any diet advice from your medical team (ASA).
  • Sleep well, and mention snoring, which can signal sleep apnea (ASA).
  • Cut back on alcohol and be honest about how much you drink — two or more drinks a day raises anesthesia risk (ASA, ASA).
  • Work with your primary care doctor to get long-term conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure as well managed as possible before a planned operation (NHS).

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).
  • Arrange the care you’ll need after the operation — for older people, suitable equipment and care — and discuss it at your pre-operative assessment. Don’t be afraid to ask for things that may help, such as a wheelchair or walking frame (NHS).
  • Keep items you use often at waist level or within easy reach, keep a phone near your bed, remove throw rugs, keep cords out of walkways, add night lights, and consider grab bars by the toilet and tub or shower (National Institute on Aging).
  • 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).
  • Relaxation techniques such as slow breathing, progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery may help. In one study of teenagers, nature sounds or relaxation exercises on the day of surgery eased anxiety beforehand (NCCIH).
  • 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.

In their own words

Wellness and lifestyle testimonials

Please read first. These are personal experiences, not medical advice. MBHA makes no medical claims and does not claim any product heals or cures. Always tell your care team about anything you wear or use around a procedure, and follow their instructions — including the rule not to drive or sign important papers for 24 hours after sedation, however alert you feel. Ask your surgeon before putting anything on or near a surgical wound.

In December I had a test where a tube is passed down the esophagus to look into swallowing problems. Before they put me under, I told the doctor I was wearing my magnetic back support, insoles and a wrap with two small magnets around my neck. I was told I’d have a sore throat afterward and would be drowsy for 24 hours. I woke up alert and feeling fine, had no throat discomfort, and wasn’t even tired the rest of the day.

— Sibyl

Last summer I had same-day surgery with anesthesia — not general, but I have no memory of the procedure. I woke up feeling woozy and sickly. As soon as I got home I got under my far-infrared travel comforter, and within about ten minutes I felt fully recovered from the anesthesia. A few months later an acquaintance was having same-day knee surgery, so I loaned him the comforter and asked him to use it the same way. He reported the same kind of experience.

— Janice

I recently had a lumpectomy as an outpatient. Later that day, once I was sure there was no active bleeding, I placed a small magnet inside my bra over the surgical dressing and wore it around the clock for two weeks. I had no pain, swelling or bruising. A few red spots at the local-anesthetic injection sites faded within 48 hours after I rubbed a cream on them. I never needed the pain prescription, and at two weeks it was hard to tell I’d had surgery — the scar was minimal. (A good surgeon is nice to have, too!) The pathology was negative and the recovery was quick and easy.

— Name withheld

Shared with first names only. Lightly edited for length and spelling.

Member stories

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Sources

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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