In most cases, a person will start to wake up from anesthesia within a few minutes after the procedure, but it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to fully recover

. The type of anesthesia and the length of the procedure can impact how long it takes to regain consciousness

. Factors that affect wake-up time from anesthesia:

• Type and dosage of anesthetic drugs Short-acting drugs, such as propofol, lead to a quicker recovery

• Individual metabolism People metabolize drugs at different rates

• Age and overall health Older adults and those with certain health conditions may take longer to wake up

• Length of the procedure Longer surgeries might require more anesthetic, leading to a longer wake-up time

If a patient doesn’t wake up 30 to 60 minutes after general anesthesia, it is called delayed emergence

. In these instances, medications may be administered to promote wakefulness and counteract the residual effects of the anesthetics used during surgery