How can a liver biopsy be done and is it painful?

Needle biopsy: Liver biopsy is generally done with a thick needle that removes a core of the tissue. It would be painful to the extent that inserting a thick needle through the skin will cause pain.

Liver biopsy: In my hospital, liver biopsy is performed with conscious sedation, or medication given through an IV to relax and decrease pain. Next, local anesthesia is administered, which feels like a bee sting. An ultrasound is used to guide a biopsy needle into the liver, and samples are obtained. With proper local anesthesia, the procedure should not be painful.