When a person decides to undergo cosmetic surgery to improve their physical appearance, it is essential that it takes place in a medical environment with the appropriate equipment and trained professionals.

But what does a medical environment with surgical safety mean? With this term, we refer to a place that follows the health protocols indicated by the Ministry of Health, such as strict hygiene and sterilization measures in the operating room, continuous monitoring of the patient’s vital signs, careful attention to every step of the procedure to minimize the risk of complications, among others.

One way to ensure that these protocols are being respected is by performing the surgery in a hospital or clinic, where all procedures involving the application of general anesthesia should be carried out. Hospitals and clinics must comply with regulatory and safety standards established by health authorities to be authorized. Additionally, they are the only ones that have the necessary surgical safety to prevent and resolve any eventual complication, having a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals and trained nursing staff who can provide specialized care throughout the process. Likewise, they have different areas such as operating rooms, recovery rooms, and advanced monitoring equipment. In addition to having all the necessary equipment such as a CT scanner, MRI, blood bank service, laboratory, Coronary Care Unit, and intensive care unit. In other words, a center called high complexity.

Another fundamental pillar that complements surgical safety is the choice of the surgeon. All countries have a National Society of Plastic Surgery; in Argentina, it is the SACPER (Argentine Society of Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery). You can consult this Society if the Surgeon you are considering is a part of it. It has a Surgeon search engine that will give you the peace of mind of knowing that the doctor is certified in the specialty. If you are still in the process of choosing a surgeon, you can visit one of our articles: ‘I decided to have cosmetic surgery, how do I choose the professional?’, where we elaborate much more on this topic, and we consider it complements this article perfectly.

Having already selected a Certified Specialist and a high-complexity center, we can move forward with the type of surgery to be performed.

To complement surgical safety, it is essential for the surgeon to take into account the patient’s personal medical history, including pre-existing conditions, allergies, and habits. It is also fundamental for them to order the necessary preoperative studies according to the type of intervention to be performed.

Our goal with this article is to inform the community about the increased risks and potential complications that may arise if surgical safety is not respected.

We hope that this article serves to inform you about why it is essential for your surgery to be performed in a high-complexity center and by a Certified Plastic Surgery Specialist