Are outpatient (ambulatory surgery centers) surgeries safe?

Surgery centers in most states are held to literally the same standards as hospitals so your fears are unwantedDr Corbin

I understand your concern about ambulatory surgery centers.  It seems like a hospital would be safer for a major case like breast reduction surgery.  There was a time when I did all of my breast reductions in the hospital with an overnight stay.  For the past 10 years or so, I have done almost all my breast reductions as outpatients and I honestly feel that those patients have done as well or even a little better than the hospital patients.  Out patient surgery centers are smaller facilities and the staff is usually very cohesive and used to working together with the surgeon as a team.  This teamwork allows for efficiency and high quality care. Sending a patient home with a family member or friend provides the patient with one on one care, something that a hospital cannot provide.  Also, hospitals have a higher incidence of surgical site infections than outpatient surgery centers.  This does not mean that hospitals don't work as hard to reduce infections.  It just means that the patients present in the hospital operating rooms tend to be sick and are more likely to be carriers of certain bacteria.  Ambulatory surgery centers are for healthy patients who are not likely to carry worrisome bacteria.When choosing a surgery center, whether a free standing center or an in-office center, it is important to make sure the center is certified by one of several regulatory agencies.  Our in-office surgery center is accredited by AAAASF and also the State of Washington.  Also, make sure your surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Just because a ambulatory surgery center is certified doesn't necessarily mean the surgeon is properly certified.