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- Is your surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, rather than an abbreviated and self governing board of cosmetic surgery. This sounds like a subtle point, but it could be the difference between eight years of surgical training, and a weekend course in cosmetics!
- Is the facility accredited by AAAASF or AAAHC? Ask for a copy of the certification.
- Just as in the hospital, is there a physician anesthesiologist immediately available. If the surgeon supervises a nurse anesthetist (CRNA), recognize that although this is perfectly legal, it is not the standard of care that you would get at a surgical center or hospital where the CRNA is supervised by an anesthesiologist (ie, a physician certified to administer a general anesthetic.)
- Beware of terms like “twilight anesthesia,” or “room air general.” You’ll never find these terms in a text book of anesthesiology. If you’re sedated to the point that you’re unaware and unresponsive, then this is general anesthesia, no matter what medications or airway protection (if any) is used. Ask if there’s a chance that you could be under general anesthesia, and if so, is the surgeon certified to administer a general anesthetic? (doubtful!)
- Does the surgeon have privileges at a local hospital to perform the procedure they’re planning in the office? A call to the credentialing department of your local hospital will answer this question.
- Does your surgeon have admitting privileges to the same hospital should an emergency arise?
- Will there be a circulating RN in the OR and an RN in the recovery room?
For further questions please visit the links below about office-based surgery.
• American Society of Anesthesiology
www.asahq.org
• American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
www.surgery.org
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