Many plastic surgeons have excellent operating rooms right in their offices and it often pays to use them. In the first place, the patient will be in and out in under a day; and second, he or she might save thousands of dollars because while there may be an additional charge for using the office, it should be substantially less than a hospital bill. And recovery at home or in a hotel room is perfectly safe as usually little postoperative care is required.

Office surgery is perfectly safe, even if the intended surgery requires general anesthesia. Most operations on the face, nose, tummy, thighs and breasts are done on or just under the skin and do not involve major intrusions into the body. The only exception is large volume liposuction; this procedure should definitely be done in a hospital.

The most important factor in considering the facilities where you will undergo your surgery is your own comfort level. If privacy and a very personal experience is desired, your interests will likely be better served by a skilled surgeon with private operating facilities. But remember, it is more important to choose your surgeon based on his or her skills than basing your decision on facilities: your results will last longer than your time in the operating room.