Facelift: Q&A

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Does It Matter if an Accredited Surgery Center is Hospital Adjacent?

In reviewing websites, I see that some surgeons tout that their accredited surgery centers are right across the street from a hospital.

I know that plastic surgery is generally safe, but I am wondering if, in the rare event of a complication with a facelift, I should care that the surgery center is hospital adjacent as opposed to a 10-15 minute ride through city traffic?

Or should this play no role in my selection of a surgeon?

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21 Doctor Answers | Asked by Doberman in Los Angeles

Doctor Answers (21)
Community Comments (0)

Importance of surgery center distance to a hospital

It is very rare to have a medical issue during a facelift operation. The chances of being admitted to a hospital after a facelift are very rare in healthy people. It is slightly more advantageous to have the surgery center located across the street rather than twenty minutes across town. Also ask about using a board-certified physician anesthesiologist versus nurse anesthetist. It is also important to ask if it is a general or local anesthesia.

Accreditation of surgery facility more important than proximity to hospital

There has been a major emphasis on safety in plastic surgery for several years. In fact, it has been some 10 years now that the American Society of Plastic Surgeons required that its members work only in accredited facilities. The accredtitation process requires demonstration of the ability to manage life-threatening events.

Safety of outpatient surgery

Although it is certainly beneficial to have a hospital adjacent to an outpatient surgery center where you will be having your facelift procedure, the more important issue is what kind of credentials the outpatient center has independent of the hospital. Unless the outpatient center has been set up by the hospital, physician owned outpatient centers are essentially on their own. You should seek a center that is AAAHC certified or an equivalent certification. Check out the level of... more

Location of Accredited Surgery Center

Proximity to a hospital is not a an important consideration when evaluating a free-standing accredited surgery center. Accredited centers have the necessary equipment and drugs to handle emergency situations. If personal health problems are a concern, I question the decision to have cosmetic surgery.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

9 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Know your accreditation and doctor credentials

Complication rates for cosmetic surgery performed by board certified surgeons in accredited surgery centers is very, very small - but not zero. Obviously, close proximity to a hospital can be beneficial if a life threatening emergency occurs. More important though, even if the surgery center is next door to a hospital, is that the surgeon is board certified, the center is accredited, and the anesthesia provider is board certified. Surgery center certification can come from several areas... more

D.J. Verret, MD

4 reviews

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

innovationsfps.com

Accredited surgery center is hospital adjacent

More than the ASC being adjacent to a hospital, is does the operating surgeon have at least admitting privileges and operating privileges at that hospital! My rule of thumb is to be within 2 miles of a hospital that I can operate at, as my office is. Regards.

Outpatient surgery for plastic surgery patients

In general, the risks of anesthetic complications from an elective plastic surgery procedure are rare at approximately 1 in 50,000. Life threatening complications are even rarer. In my opinion, it is safer to have surgery at an accredited surgery center since they have to meet national and state safety standards than a surgery center that is not accredited but located closer to a hospital. Really, the surgery center needs to be fully equipped and ready for any emergency regardless of the... more

Scott Trimas, MD

3 reviews

Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facesonly.com

This is a minor issue unless you have any health problems

Accredited surgery centers are pretty darn safe, especially for healthy people getting surgery. Yes, to be accredited to perform general anesthesia, a surgery center must follow pretty tough standards. However for me it is always an issue of staffing. Even the largest office based surgery centers for cosmetic surgery have very few anesthesia personal. There are no respriatory therapy staff. A hospital based surgery center is an entirely different matter. These are larger centers with many... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Which is SAFER a Surgical Center NEAR a Hospital or ACROSS TOWN from a Hospital

Plastic surgery done by a Board Certified Plastic surgeon (check www.PlasticSurgery.org), on healthy patients in an accredited surgical facility is extremely safe but never complication free. In the very rare emergency when hospital intervention is needed, the closer the facility is to the hospital, the higher the likelihood of earlier intervention. Dr. P. Aldea

Accredited surgery center is across the street from the hospital

In the event that something happened, there is probably a small advantage to getting to the hospital a few minutes earlier. It depends on exactly what has happened. As you said, the chances of having something actually happen requiring a hospital are very small. Keep in mind that very sick patients call ambulances in major cities and their transport can be very delayed and in most cases they do OK. As Dr. Rand pointed out, you will be supported until your arrival at the hospital. If I... more

For accredited surgery centers, the difference is small

All properly accredited surgery centers are required to have safety equipment and training for management of medical emergencies. In the unlikely event that a true emergency occured, transfer to a hospital would occur after stabilization of the patient. The most important factor in your safety is the surgical and anesthetic staff you choose to care for you. In my opinion, the skill of the staff and quality of the surgical facility is more important than physical proximity to a hospital. more

Mark Beaty, MD

7 reviews

Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.beatymd.com

Surgery Centers attached to hospitals are safer IMO

All surgery centerns are required to have safety equipment and the people are all trained for emergencies regardless of where the center is located. This is basic to their accreditation. Emergency care would be initiated at the ASC but would need to be completed at a hospital. Therefore, you raise the single salient point - in an emergency how long will it take to be transferred for definitive care? In my opinion, an ASC which is attached to or directly adjacent to a hospital is safer... more

Safety Matters

Safety is the top concern. Ensure that the facility that you go to is properly accredited (AAAASF or equivalent) and has a long history of safe outcomes.

Does It Matter if an Accredited Surgery Center is Hospital Adjacent?

Let me preface this answer by saying I am the owner of a 4 Operating room, AAAASF, office facility literally across the street from my hospital. I know that if I have a problem and call 911 while administering to the emergency of course, the paramedics are dispatched from where ever they are (fire stsation), not the hospital. so does it help that your doctor's office is across the street from the hospital? yes it will be easier for yur doctor to visit you if you... more

Is it important for an accredited surgical facility to be adjacent to a hospital?

The certification of the surgical facility is much, much more important than the physical proximity to a hospital. It's of paramount importance that the facility is certified by Medicare or your state, and is accredited by a national organization. In these cases, the facility will have to maintain the same safety measures as would a hospital. If you have significant medical problems, or are undergoing a length procedure, it makes much more sense to perform your procedure in a hospital -... more

Safer is Better

Being safe is always a good option. This is a nice feature, but also, you need to make sure the operating surgeon has admitting priviledges at that hospital as well. This I feel is just as important if not, even more than the first mentioned.

Transfer to hospital after surgicenter surgery

Generally this will depend more on your health. IT is exceptionally rare that you will have an emergency that will require transport to a hospital. IF this is a source of major concern and anxiety for you then you should have the procedure performed in the hospital and not worry about the transfer. However, this will likely cost significantly more than a free-standing ambulatory facility.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Safety of free standing ambulatory surgical centers

That is a very good question but one that is hard to answer. It depends on the type of facelift, your physical condition and the surgeon. Some patients need to have the surgery itself done in the hospital. We can say that in general statistically the certified ambulatory surgery centers have proven to be as safe as hospitals themselves as long as routine safety measures are followed with proper patient selection and medical clearance. A lot of this has to do with what is done before surgery... more

ACCREDITED SURGERY CENTER LOCATION

I would not let the location of an accredited surgery center even enter your decision-making process. All accredited centers have transfer agreements arranged with local hospitals. Statistically, you are more likely to die driving to surgery than from the surgery or aftercare. Your safety concern is similar in magnitude to whether you should ride in the back seat of your car or drive a Prius versus a Suburban to the facility. Not trying to belittle your question, but as you already... more

Facility near a hospital

It is always safer to perform surgery in the hospital because if there is an emergency the patient is already there. I perform surgery in my accredited facility for convenience of the patient and myself. I use this facility for healthy patients. In addition, the unusual infections that a patient can obtain in a hospital is less likely than in my facility. In addition, I can guarantee using the same staff in my office that are familiar with plastic surgery procedures as opposed to the hospital. more