Healthcare professionals generally consider local anesthesia to be very safe. For minor surgery, it is safer than general anesthesia. There may be some tingling and pain during the administration of the drug and when it is wearing off, and a person may notice some bruising, but these effects are usually minor.

Is general or local anesthesia better?

Local anesthesia is typically even safer than general anesthesia, because it bypasses the systemic effects seen with the latter. The side effect profile is also better with local anesthesia, which could, however, result in some swelling and redness at the injection site or an allergic reaction.

What are the chances of dying from general anesthesia?

The risk of dying in the operating theatre under anaesthetic is extremely small. For a healthy person having planned surgery, around 1 person may die for every 100,000 general anaesthetics given. Brain damage as a result of having an anaesthetic is so rare that the risk has not been put into numbers.