Aug 23rd, 2019

Advanced Cosmetic Surgery 101: The Safety of Outpatient Plastic Surgery

Whether you have a breast lift, breast augmentation, a facelift, or a brow lift, it is understandable you have concerns about the safety of outpatient plastic surgery. Cosmetic surgery has evolved and advanced over the past several decades.

Many of these advances are largely due to improved technologies, better surgical equipment, laser surgery, and highly trained and skilled advanced cosmetic surgery plastic surgeons. In addition, many plastic surgeons have invested plenty of resources into their facilities to create state-of-the-art locations that are complete with onsite surgical rooms, recovery rooms, and more.

Where Can Surgery Be Performed?

Surgery can be performed in an office setting, ambulatory surgical center, or hospital. Whichever setting is chosen, you want to verify that the center is accredited by a recognized national body to make sure the center meets the national standard for patient safety and is properly equipped to deal with any surprises or problems that may occur.

What Are the Recognized Accredited National Agencies?

3 agencies are recognized that provide national accreditation for cosmetic surgical facilities:

1. American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF)
2. American Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
3. Joint Commission for Accreditation, Health Care, and Certification (JCAHO)

Additionally, you want to verify your cosmetic surgeon is board certified. Board-certified plastic surgeons are required to operate in accredited office facilities. The agencies that certify plastic surgeons include:

1. American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
2. American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)
3. American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)

How Does Accreditation Improve Safety?

Most plastic surgery ambulatory surgical facilities are accredited by the AAAASF, which requires 100% compliance with high standards relating to office surgery. These standards require the appropriate credentials and hospital privileges for surgeons using the facility.

These standards also have stringent requirements for the physical environment, equipment, personnel, monitoring, and emergency equipment and policies affecting patient safety. Data collected and published reflects an outstanding record for AAAASF accredited facilities, comparable to or exceeding those of hospitals for over 1.5 million reported procedures.

Why Our Outpatient Surgery Facility Is Safe

At Grossman Plastic Surgery, we have a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon and an accredited surgical team that has been with our practice for decades. Other reasons why our outpatient surgery center is safe include:

1. Grossman is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has been practicing for over 20 years. Plastic surgeons certified by the ABPS (American Board of Plastic Surgery) are considered the leading standard.
2. We review your full family health, medical history and any prescription and over-the-counter medications you take. Being open and honest about your family health and medical history helps your surgeon determine if there are any specific risks directly related to your health and wellbeing. Providing a list of all the medications you take helps your surgeon evaluate whether there are any added risks before surgery.
3. The surgery is performed in a facility that has the right equipment for the procedure. The ABPS requires that all ABPS-certified plastic surgeons perform outpatient surgeries in facilities that meet specific criteria and be accredited.
4. Grossman uses a surgical team consisting of skilled, licensed, and experienced people. Since the facility meets ABPS criteria, you also know that any surgical teams will have met specific ABPS safety criteria.
5. Grossman takes extra precautions for more extensive procedures. There are specific factors that can increase the risks of cosmetic surgery, such as being overweight or older.
6. Before undergoing any surgery Dr. Grossman will talk to you about the safety precautions relating to you and your medical history. For patients with increased risks, your plastic surgeon will either take steps to have the necessary medical professionals or schedule your surgery in a hospital surgery room instead.

By working together with your plastic surgeon and their team of surgical professionals, you can increase the level of quality care, improve surgery safety, and ensure successful cosmetic surgery results. Most importantly, if you have any questions about cosmetic surgery risks or related concerns, always be open with your surgeon and share what is on your mind.

To learn more about the safety of outpatient plastic surgery at Grossman Plastic Surgery, please feel free to contact our office at 818-981-2050 today to schedule a consultation! Dr. Grossman and our entire team of medical professionals are happy to discuss our safety practices and how we help reduce surgical risks for our patients.