Plastic surgery done in surgical center at hospital, or plastic surgeon's own private practice?

Yes, it can be completely legitimate and safe to have breast augmentation (and other cosmetic surgery) performed in a surgery center -- even an office based surgery center.  Ask a few more questions to ensure that everything is truly legitimate.Ask what certifications their surgery center holds and then research (Google) those certifications.  One of the most common legitimate certifications (my own surgery center has this certification) is AAAASF.  Any operating room with valid certification has the same level of sterility and same safety equipment as a hospital operating room.Make sure the surgeon has hospital privileges to perform the surgery you are having even if you are having the surgery in their surgery center.  If your surgeon can't go to a local hospital to perform the surgery that means the hospital doesn't recognize your doctors training to be able to perform that surgery at their hospital.  BIG RED FLAGAsk what their protocols are for intra-operative emergencies that may necessitate transfer to a hospital.  Most surgeons screen patients well enough that this would be extraordinarily rare, but there should be a protocol in place.  I screen my patients so only healthy patients, with minimal anesthetic risk will be operated on in my office operating room (we actually own our own surgery center with four, outpatient operating rooms).  I have performed breast augmentation on kidney transplant patients and patients that have undergone cardiac surgery for congenital heart defects -- but I performed those surgeries at the hospital because those patients are too high risk.Your question about cost is something totally different.  Yes, some doctors that aren't plastic surgeon will perform breast augmentation in their office "operating room" (really just a modified broom closet) and the cost will be lower.  I hope you have done your research enough to completely rule this scenario out of possibility.  Most other reasons for a lower price for breast augmentation are equally sketchy.  Do you really want to go to the discount breast augmentation doctor?  Save money on groceries, not plastic surgery.  I am not trying to say that the highest price is necessarily the best option though either.  Do your research.  Evaluate your surgeon's credentials and those of the operating facility.  Make sure the reviews of other patients helps you feel confident that you will likewise receive similar service.  Remember the lowest price is almost never the right choice or best option.If you want further information about breast augmentation you can download my free breast augmentation planner at aBetterBreast dot com.  There is a TON of information in a very compact and accessible PDF download.Best of luck in your search.

Hello,Thank you for your question. Private surgery facilities should be licenced and accredited which means that they are held to the same, strict standards of hospitals. You should have a board certified anesthesiologist and your Plastic Surgeon, board certified with plenty of experience. It is certainly worth paying standard costs and not making decisions based on a deal in these cases. But yes, a private surgical centre can be extremely safe.All the best

Hi xjuliee; Great question; In Washington State, there is a licensing requirement for office based ambulatory surgery centers for procedures done with more than light sedation that is every bit as stringent as the hospital based surgery centers. In our facility, we also have had AAAASF Accreditation prior to the state license requirement. Board Certified Plastic Surgeons who are members or the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons must operate in certified facilities to maintain their standing. The exception are procedures done under light sedation practiced by some that is not regulated and may not have the same standards. Ask the office what their track record is. Call your state licensing office at the department of health to check is there have been any complaints against the facility as well as against the local hospital ambulatory center if you are planning to use them. I have also worked in both facilities. I'd say which is better depends. My office based surgery center has had no infection nor severe complications. Compared to hospital based facilities that may be treating people with higher risk of complications as well as carry more community based bacterial risk we are a better choice.  We  have very strict pre-operative protocols for skin preparation and do only clean surgeries so all patients are treated more comprehensively than done at the hospital. Other office facilities may not be as thorough as ours and may have worse complications and infection rates. AS important is who are the personnel and who is giving your anesthesia. We work with a board certified anesthesiologist with decades of experience of safety. In our area, hospital based facilities are significantly more expensive than our surgical center.