It would depend on the operation. Back in 1982, I had surgery to repair several ligaments in my knee. The plan was for me to be awake for the entire operation.

It would depend on the operation. Back in 1982, I had surgery to repair several ligaments in my knee. The plan was for me to be awake for the entire operation. (They gave me headphones and let me pick a radio station.) The neural block did not quite take, because I felt the incision -- not as if I had just been sliced by a scalpel; but, it was uncomfortable. They decided to knock me out and turned a valve on an IV and I was out. Unlike full-blown anesthesia, I was barely out and was awake about 10 minutes after they finished. Two years ago, I had a vitrectomy and I was awake for that. For that, I would rather have been asleep. Even if you can't feel them poking your eye, it's a bit unsettling.