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SAFETY & OUTPATIENT SURGERY
Many cosmetic procedures can be safely done in an outpatient setting. The advantages to you are that the center is easier to access, more intimate and attuned to cosmetic procedures and yet is staffed and maintained by the hospital to the highest standards. But what about safety? Here is what you need to know about outpatient plastic surgery safety. Thousands of people have plastic surgery every year without complications yet no surgical procedure is risk-free.
To maximize your safety be sure that:
1.-Your surgeon is adequately trained and is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) the ONLY board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to certify a surgeon in plastic surgery of the face and entire body.
Certification by the ABPS is the “gold standard” for plastic surgeons because it signifies that the surgeon has had formal training in an accredited plastic surgery residency program.
If your surgeon is ABPS-certified, you are assured that your doctor:
- has completed at least five years of surgical residency training after medical school, including at least two years in plastic surgery
- has passed comprehensive cosmetic and reconstructive surgery exams in addition to the exams that all doctors must take
- is qualified to perform cosmetic and reconstructive procedures- everything from liposuction and facelifts to intricate repairs such as cleft lips and palates.
 Both Dr. Richards and Dr. Jabs are board certified. To verify a surgeons certification status contact the American Board of Plastic Surgery at 215.587.9322 or visit the board’s website at www.abplsurg.org or contact the American Board of Medical Specialties at 800.7766.2378, website: www.abms.org.
2.-The facility where your surgery is to be performed conforms to strict safety standards.
Surgical outpatient facilities are accredited by one of three organizations. To find out a facilities accreditation status contact the facility and ask who they are accredited by and then contact that organization at one of the numbers below.
- The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations (JCAHO)
630.792.5005 or www.jcaho.org.
- The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAPSF) 888.545.5222 or www.aaaasf.org.
- The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
847.853.6060 or www.aaahc.org.
Any facility that we use must be state of the art and conform to national standards or we won’t operate there. Suburban Hospital outpatient surgical facility is accredited by JCAHO.
3.-Your surgeon is informed of any drugs you are taking and your full medical history is documented, especially if you have had any circulation disorders, heart or lung ailments or problems with blood clots
4.-The surgical facility uses skilled, licensed nurses and doctors to administer and monitor your anesthesia and your recovery immediately following your procedure. We use facilities with board certified anesthesiologists and seasoned well trained nurses.
5.-Extra safety measures are taken if you are having a more extensive liposuction procedure. We use intermittent compression stockings and one for one tumescent volume replacement as well as I.V. fluids to increase safety.
Plastic surgery procedures performed in accredited surgical facilities by board-certified plastic surgeons have an excellent safety record.
Safety is our number one concern and should be yours also. We insist on doing all of our surgeries in a hospital owned facility with state of the art equipment, specialized nurses and staff, and board certified anesthesiologists. You deserve nothing less.
Cosmetic Surgery Associates
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