by Terrye Tebbetts

Just when you think you have found the perfect surgeon to perform your breast augmentation, decided on the perfect size, committed to paying the bill for it, you realize that your surgery is going to be where?  In the back office??  Hmmm, maybe that is why it was cheaper than the other quotes? Oh no, the questions just start cramming your brain with worry – is it a real OR, are there emergency back up systems, is my surgeon allowed to take his patients to big hospitals if something goes wrong, who will be responsible for my anesthesia, why doesn’t my surgeon use a real surgery facility, who inspects this place????

A wonderful patient advocate friend of mine brought this issue to light today and I think it deserves to be spotlighted here too…

http://www.ljcsc.com/plastic-surgery-center-accreditation

“Some surgeons who are not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and who are not permitted to do breast augmentations in a hospital , will try to do the surgery in their office instead. If you are considering using a surgeon who is planning to do the surgery in his office, make sure that the reason is not… that he/she is not permitted to do it in the hospital.    Ask them for the name(s) of a hospital where they are permitted to do “Breast Augmentations” (not just surgery in another specialty). Also… Check with the medical staff office of the hospital(s)  that he/she  “actually has privileges”    to do breast augmentations there .  If not…. find and use  another PS.

Those that   do have their  own “Accredited Operating Facilities”  at their own facilities   are set up just as  hospital  operating rooms with  recovery rooms, the properly trained staff and  Licensed Anesthesiologists. Some others ,  well…possibly may not be.

This matter is of the utmost  importance for your well being.  Remember if a licensed MD / surgeon in another fiield  of medicine/surgery,  can do BA surgeries and  legally so.  That does not make it  safe. They “must”  be able to perform  Breast Augmentations  in  a hospital…. even if they have their own private  Accredited Operating facilities.    Make sure, who  ever you use  has hospital affiliations/privileges… for doing” Breast Augmentations”. ”

Thanks Patty – for keeping us all honest and for always looking out for what we don’t know that we need to know.  There are so many deeper issues in breast augmentation than simply deciding on size – yet these more important issues aren’t as glitzy and fun and they don’t get the attention they should!

About the Author: Terrye Tebbetts is one of the most knowledgeable women in the world about breast implants, with 27 years of experience educating patients and 11 years as a patient herself. For more information about breast implants or breast augmentation Dallas surgeons, please visit www.thebestbreast.com.