Choosing Your Liposuction Surgeon: Qualifications of Surgical Facility and Operating Room Staff
Once you have vetted your
liposuction doctor’s
qualifications, you also need to make sure that his staff is properly trained
and that you are comfortable with their level of expertise. While the
liposuction doctor’s education, training and qualifications are extremely important,
the level of training and experience of his staff, who will be heavily
involved, should absolutely be on your mind.
The other aspect of your
liposuction surgery that you need to know all
about is where it will be taking place. Rather than a hospital setting, many
cosmetic and liposuction procedures take place in surgery centers or even
sometimes in a fully outfitted doctor’s office. You need to make sure though,
that the facility, no matter where it is, is fully accredited. The surgery
location must be above board. Don’t compromise.
If you are having general anesthesia, you need to know if
there will be an anesthesiologist present or if you will be tended by a nurse
anesthetist. You should know their backgrounds and qualifications as part of
your research.
It’s also very important
to make sure that your attending surgical team, like your
liposuction surgeon,
is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and that there is a crash
cart available in case of emergency. Finally, you’ll want to learn about the
nurse that will be with your during post op.
There is a lot of information to find and know when you are
choosing your
liposuction doctor, but it will be worth the work. Knowing that
you are in good hands, that you will be safe and well cared for, and that your
team is well qualified no matter what happens will exponentially decrease your
stress level and help you to have a better experience.
Questions to Ask About: Qualifications of Surgical Facility
and Operating Room Staff
- Will the liposuction be done in an accredited surgical
facility?
- If anesthesia includes the use of intravenous (IV) drugs
such as sedatives, narcotics, will there be an anesthesiologist (physician) or
nurse anesthetist monitoring the patient during surgery?
- If liposuction is to be done totally by local anesthesia,
will there be a registered nurse (RN) present to assist the surgeon in the
operating room and to take care of the patient after the surgery?
- Are all of the operating room and recovery room staff, such
as Registered Nurses and Anesthetists/Anesthesiologists, presently certified in
ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification?
- After surgery will there be an ACLS certified registered
nurse (RN) with the patient at all times and continuously until the patient is
discharged?
- Does the surgical facility have a fully equipped crash cart?
