Surgeons are asked to do more and larger procedures as outpatient procedures as the economics of medicine evolve. Indeed, we all carry out procedures on an outpatient basis that only a short time ago we would consider only on an inpatient basis. Further, procedures that had previously been performed under a general anesthetic are now being performed under local anesthesia. A good working knowledge of local anesthetics (LAs) will better enable the surgeon to meet those demands and to do so in a way that will enhance the patient’s safety, experience, and comfort. Although the focus of this issue of Clinics is minor surgery, any meaningful discussion of LAs has to go a little further than a 3-mL syringe and a small amount of lidocaine.