Rhinoplasty in private clinic vs. Hospital?

In most cases, you will save a.considerable amount of money having the surgery done in the surgeon's surgicenter.  Just make sure the facility is certified and that there will be a board certified anesthesiologist in attendance.  Also, of course, choose your surgeon carefully as that is the most important decision you can make.

Choose a surgeon who has exemplary training and vast experience in RHINOPLASTY  surgery.  In Canada, (certainly in British Columbia) it is government policy that any surgeon performing any surgical procedure of any type in a private facility must also have privileges to do the same surgical procedure at an accredited regional hospital.  Indeed all of the private surgical facilities are accredited by the College of Physicians and the provincial medical licensing authority, so choosing between the two may really come down to cost and not necessarily which is BETTER.  Normally the private facilities may be less expensive than the regional hospital-so a large majority of esthetic surgeries are now done in private facilities.  Dr. Richard Fleming of Beverley Hills, who is a brilliant, gifted  surgeon -  hit the nail on the head when he said pick the surgeon and not the location-absolutely great advice !!!

The most  helpful discussion will occur with your surgeon. I would be in touch with them regarding your choices and their recommendations. It may be helpful for you to know that there is an accreditation process for every surgical center. Knowing this as a patient may help you feel more confident about all of your different options. Personally, I operate in a number of different settings. However, they are all truly exceptional and each offers different benefits. This is something that your surgeon would enjoy discussing with you. Best wishes,Dr. Hobgood

The published scientific data from the American
Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF) shows
that surgery in an accredited office-based surgical facility in the appropriately selected patient
with a fully trained anesthesia provider is safe. Complications,
while unlikely, can occur in any surgical setting, including a hospital.
Whether you are a reasonable candidate for a rhinoplasty in an
office-based surgical facility depends on your anatomy, your medical history, realistic
expectations of the outcome and an understanding of the pros and cons of the
procedure.

Safety should always be the main concern. The procedures should be performed in an ambulatory facility that is
accredited by one of the national organizations like the American Association
for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF) or in a licensed
hospital. The plastic surgeon performing the procedure should have hospital privileges to perform the same type of procedure that will be performed in the private office-based facility.

Keep in mind that following the advice of any
surgeon on this or any other web site who proposes to tell you what to do
without: examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired
outcome, and taking a full medical history, as well as discussing the pros and
cons of each operative option would not be in your best interest. I would
suggest your plastic surgeon be certified by The American Board of Plastic
Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with, and discuss your
concerns with that surgeon in person. That way, you can have a better idea what
is safe and makes the most sense for you.

Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California

In the United States, almost all rhinoplasties are performed in an outpatient surgical setting usually at a freestanding facility or in the physician's office ASC. Most patients simply cannot afford a cosmetic rhinoplasty at a local hospital due to the extensive fees for a hospital operating room. It's also much more time efficient to have the procedure performed in an outpatient ambulatory surgery Center. It's important to have the procedure done where your surgeon frequently performs his/her procedures with their own set of instruments and scrub nurse

In general a rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure so the location should not matter. What is more importnt is who is your PS and do you have trust in him/her to deliver the results that you are looking for? Seek a plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of these procedures, has great reviews, and is an expert in this field.

Hi Sudette, properly certified ambulatory surgery centers are typically much more efficient and streamlined when it comes to cosmetic surgery procedures. I would ask your surgeon how many rhinoplasty procedures he or she performs every year. I would also look at before and after pictures and read online reviews. Finally, I would make sure you have a good chemistry with the surgeon.

Thank you for the question.  Choosing the right rhinoplasty surgeon for yourself should include at least the following:-board certification.  Board certified plastic surgeon-great before and after photos of results that you like-great online reviews-good inter-personal connection between you and surgeonPrice may also be a factor but should be down on the list.  The surgeons price should be consistent with the other surgeons that you interview with.  It may be higher or lower but should not be dramatically different and should not be the key decision making factor for you.All the best,Dr. Remus Repta

Thank you for your question and I agree totally with Dr Fleming.  Find an expert in your area with privileges in both locationsDr Corbin

Dear Sudette, Most surgeons prefer to perform rhinoplasty in a private outpatient fully accredited surgical facility. Personally, I have my own accredited operating facility that is connected to my office allowing me to use my same staff, nurses, surgical technician and anesthesiologist every day. This allows the surgeon to keep the prices reduced and scheduling very convenient. One of the other factors that I appreciate is that I have never had an infection in my operating facility and hospital operating facilities are known to have the risk of infection increased. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.