Cosmetic surgery at a teaching hospital?

The residents will be doing your surgery. The 'attending surgeon' might be doing some of the surgery, or maybe just directing the residents. Your postoperative follow up might be with different residents than those that did your surgery. A 'name' teaching hospital can mislead you into thinking that the residents are 'good'. You might ask for the name of the attending surgeon who will be helping the residents and do your due diligence on that surgeon. Lastly, you might have limited legal recourse against the teaching hospital if there is a catastrophic event. 

Thanks for your question.  A teaching hospital usually means that residents and/or fellows will be observing and possibly participating in your case.  Typically for cosmetic procedures these trainees are just watching but if your surgeon teaches fellows (a more advanced trainee) the fellow may perform part of the surgery.  I would have a conversation with your surgeon about who performs the surgery.  In terms of cost, the cost of the operating room and anesthesia may be more than it would be at an outpatient surgery center, but this varies by hospital and surgery center.  If your surgeon has several good before and afters and good reviews, he/she is probably worth sticking with. Best of luck!