How is general anesthesia different from local anesthesia?

In many ways: Local anesthesia involves injecting an anesthetic agent into one part of the body to make it numb--giving novocaine for dental work is an example. General anesthesia involves injecting an anesthetic intravenously to make you unconscious.

Different medication: The word "anesthesia" can be confusing. It applies to many different drugs that prevent responses to pain. Drugs like Lidocaine and novocaine are injected with a needle to numb an area: this is "local" anesthesia. Other drugs that are given through an iv--such as Propofol or sodium pentothal--and anesthesia gases that you breathe produce general anesthesia and complete unconsciousness.

Patient awareness: In general anesthesia the entire body is placed in a state of deep sleep. In this way the body is protected while the surgeon operates. The patient has no knowledge of what is going on. In the use of local anesthesia only a small area of the body is deadened. The patient will remain awake while the operation is performed.