Where Are Most Plastic Surgery Procedures Performed?
Whether a procedure is performed in an in-office surgical facility, a hospital, or a freestanding surgery center usually depends upon the complexity of the operation and the plastic surgeon’s recommendation. For cost-containment and convenience, an increasing number of procedures — especially cosmetic operations — are being performed in freestanding or office-based surgical facilities on an outpatient basis. Patients planning to have surgery in this type of facility should ensure that it is properly equipped and staffed, that it has access to a nearby hospital, that the anesthesia will be administered by a well-trained professional, and that the doctor has privileges to perform the same procedure at an accredited hospital. One additional sign of a quality facility is accreditation by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Plastic Surgery Facilities (AAAAPSF). This organization not only inspects the facility itself, it requires that the practicing physicians are cert
