Utilizing officially certified operating facilities

With most plastic surgery procedures, you won’t spend time in the hospital. In fact, your surgery will likely be performed on an outpatient basis in an outpatient or ambulatory surgery facility. The surgery center or surgery suite may be part of your surgeon's office or in a separate location. Some very minor procedures, requiring only local anesthesia, are performed in a medical office setting. There are also cases where surgery takes place in a hospital OR (operating room), for instance: if you’re having multiple procedures, if your surgery is reconstructive in nature and is covered by insurance or if your surgeon feels that your health condition requires it.

Is Your Surgery Center is Safe? Here's What to Look For

 

Today’s modern surgery centers are generally well equipped to handle most cosmetic surgeries, including any type of anesthesia required. Outpatient surgery facilities also help patients save money by avoiding the hospital -- but you can’t assume all centers are safe. You must look for hallmarks of quality, just like you do when choosing your plastic surgeon. In that case, you look for medical Board Certification, state licensure, surgical privileges at a well-known local hospital and more. (Think of surgical hospital privileges as extra vetting of your surgeon's qualifications, even if surgery will not take place in the hospital. Good hospitals only grant privileges to surgeons who meet their performance standards.) 

The only way to know for certain if your surgeons’ preferred outpatient surgery center, ambulatory surgical center or office-based surgery suite is well-equipped and adheres to the highest safety standards is to look for accreditation. You can ask your surgeon if their chosen surgery facility is accredited and by which organization or go to the center's website. You should also verify the accreditation information with your state.

What Does Surgery Center Accreditation Really Mean?

 

Accreditation requirements vary by state and only certain accrediting organizations are accepted. Surgical center certification organizations all have slightly different standards. Normally, accreditation indicates that the outpatient surgical center has an excellent safety record. Most accreditors for surgery facilities require inspection and recertification annually--and require that any adverse incidents occurring in a surgery center be reported, so that they can accurately assess quality. To learn the exact accreditation requirements, check the accrediting organization's website for a list or contact the accrediting organization directly.