The Difference a Private Plastic Surgery Center Can Make
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1by Cosmetics Expert Mike Dune
In the United States, many surgeons perform plastic surgery procedures in hospitals. Other surgeons, though, operate in private surgical facilities that are either part of their practice or that they share with a few other physicians of similar specialties, often called outpatient surgery centers. Patients who are unfamiliar with such facilities sometimes question them until they realize the many benefits of a private surgical center. If you are in the market for an elective surgery, consider these factors.
Table of Contents
Exposure
While a plastic surgeon’s private facility sees a few healthy patients a day for scheduled surgeries, most hospitals see hundreds of patients each day, most of whom are suffering from illnesses. Having a procedure done at a private facility reduces the risk of infection or exposure to various illnesses and bacteria, which is particularly important when you are undergoing surgery. Infection can slow a patient’s recovery, and introduce the risk of multiple complications. Patients who get procedures in private surgery suites avoid these risks.
Safety
Some patients question whether a private surgical facility is as safe as a hospital setting, where they would have access to all the equipment and providers they might need in the case of an emergency. In the U.S., though, any facility where surgery is performed must be certified by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). This accreditation process requires adherence to a strict set of safety standards, including having life-saving equipment on hand and ensuring the credentials of all employees. Patients considering such a surgery center can feel confident if they check that it is certified by the AAAASF.
Continuity of Care
Private facilities employ teams of practitioners who are dedicated to a certain medical specialty and who perform the same procedures frequently. In a hospital operating room, a surgeon may work with different assistants and nurses for each procedure, and the anesthesiologist likely works with all kinds of surgical patients. In a private plastic surgery facility, though, the surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurses, and technicians are all familiar with the procedures at hand because they perform them every day.
According to the website of Dr. Paul G. Ruff, a cosmetic surgeon in Washington, D.C., with a dedicated surgery facility, this team approach provides continuity. Because his team works together on a daily basis, they are familiar with each other’s working style and methods, leading to a better outcome for patients. Patients, too, are familiar with the team members by the time the surgery day comes, because nurses and other staff are often introduced in preoperative appointments.
Discretion
It’s not uncommon for people undergoing a plastic surgery procedure to want to keep it to themselves. This may be difficult in a large public hospital setting. Most private facilities offer more discretion, often with private parking and separate entrances for surgery patients.
Convenience & Comfort
Patients who choose to have a surgery at a private facility cut down on some of the logistical drawbacks that are common for hospital surgeries, such as parking and navigating a large complex. Private surgical suites are usually at the same site as the doctor’s consultation office, so a patient can simply return to the same place he or she has visited before. These offices tend to be well-appointed, with more amenities and details than a hospital. Nurses and other employees care for fewer patients at a time than hospital employees, so patients receive more attention and get a more comfortable experience overall.
You can read more about the advantages of having plastic surgery at a private facility on the user forum Realself.
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