What Type Of Surgical Facility Is Best For Having A Tummy Tuck?

By Dr. Sean Younai

You wouldn't have your wisdom teeth pulled in your dentist's living room. Why not give equal consideration to your physician’s surgical facility? Your very life could depend, not only upon the skill of your surgeon, but upon the quality of this facility.

The Importance of Accreditation

Your surgery should be performed at an accredited ambulatory surgery center, or at a hospital. It is unwise to have your surgery performed merely in a physician’s office, or procedure room, especially in the case of a Body Lift, which is a more extensive surgery. If your physician operates in a surgical facility, there are five crucial factors to consider:

1. It is certified by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF.org) or;
2. It is certified by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC.org) or;
3. It is certified by Medicare or;
4. Is it certified by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and;
5. The facility has a transfer agreement with a local hospital. (This is necessary in an emergency situation when a patient needs to be transferred to a hospital).
6. Does the facility have the capacity for overnight stay? There is a trend towards requiring post-surgical overnight monitoring or stays for more extensive procedures such as a Body Lift, Panniculectomy, Belt Lipectomy; or in cases when multiple procedures are performed at one setting.