Most careers involving anesthesia are focused on health care. In these roles, you may help prepare patients for surgery or another medical procedure, administer anesthesia, and monitor patients throughout the process. There are two primary forms of anesthesia. Local anesthesia is used to numb specific parts of the body while a patient is conscious and is commonly used in areas like dental care or treating minor wounds. General anesthesia makes a patient unconscious and is usually only performed at a hospital or outpatient facility.