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The Consultation Process
The consultation provides a comfortable and confidential atmosphere to thoroughly discuss a patient's desired physical change, as well as their expectations and concerns.
During your consultation, Dr. Barr will complete a thorough discussion of your options and his proposed treatment plan to achieve your desired results. You will be given a visual image of the expected improvement and digital photography will be completed. Where appropriate, Dr. Barr may choose to illustrate your possible surgical outcome using imaging software.
Private consultations are priced at $150 + HST, which is fully deducted from the cost of your surgical procedure should you choose to proceed.
Consultations with Dr. Barr are typically booked 8 weeks forward. It is possible that consultation appointments may occasionally extend beyond 8 weeks. Patients may choose to place their name on a waiting list and will be called if an earlier consultation date can be arranged. In addition, cancellations do occur which offer patients alternative consultation dates as well.
Anaesthesia
There are two types of anaesthesia used in surgery: local and general.
1. Local Anaesthesia
Local anaesthetic is administered through a small needle by injection into the area to be operated on or the nerves that provide sensation to that area, eliminating all sensation in the tissue and therefore, blocking out pain.
Dr. Barr utilizes two local anaesthetic agents for his procedures. The local anaesthetic consists of two chemical agents: Lidocaine and a long acting agent called Marcaine. The patient is conscious but the anaesthetic blocks the transmission of information to the brain, stopping feeling or sensation for the duration of the operation and usually for up to 16 hours after surgery.
2. Local Anaesthesia Combined With Sedation
Local anesthesia is often combined with sedation. The aim of this technique is to make the patient extremely comfortable and relaxed while remaining in a state of semi-consciousness. Sedatives are frequently used in conjunction with local anaesthetics, and these can be administered orally or by drip. Eyelid surgery, ear surgery, and liposuction surgery are commonly performed under local anaesthetic with sedation.
3. General Anaesthetic
A general anaesthetic puts the patient to sleep and blocks out pain. This type of anaesthetic should only be administered by a fully trained anaesthetist. General anaesthetics are used in many types of cosmetic surgery, including breast augmentation and face lifts. A general anaesthetic has three basic elements, known as the anaesthetic triad: the "hypos element", which puts you to sleep; the "analgesic" to give pain relief and a "muscle relaxant" to relax the muscles.
Which Type of Anaesthesia Should You Choose?
Dr. Barr will recommend the type of anaesthetic he thinks suitable for the operation you are planning to undergo. People who are particularly nervous and squeamish should always opt for a general rather than a local, although sedation can help to take the edge off a patient's nerves. Many procedures are now being performed using local anaesthetic in combination with sedation techniques rather than using general.
What is crucial to remember about anaesthetics is that you only get what you pay for. Some cosmetic clinics cut costs by using anaesthetists who have less experience and training compared to an anaesthetist you would find working in a bigger community hospital. Patients should ensure that the anaesthetist that will be administering anaesthesia during their operation have privileges at larger community hospitals.
In addition, ensure that the anaesthetic medications and techniques are those that will provide you with the best result both during and after the operative procedure. At Barr Plastic Surgery Centre, only fully trained, board certified anaesthetists who provide the most current methods of anaesthetic care are used to ensure that each patient enjoys a pleasant and completely safe experience.
What is the CAAASF?
Barr Plastic Surgery Centre is fully accredited with the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities. The entire aim of the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities is to protect the public from potential problems that could arise because of surgical procedures being performed in a facility improperly equipped for a given procedure. The Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (CAAASF) is a national organization formed in 1990 to ensure that surgical procedures done outside a hospital are performed safely and carefully.
It is a voluntary organization of doctors whose members have chosen to have their facilities inspected to ensure that their patients have the assurance of a safe alternative to in-hospital surgery.
The CAAASF Mandate
The aim of the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities is threefold:
- To establish facility and equipment guidelines that facilities must meet before being accepted for membership;
- To designate appropriate qualifications for individuals working in ambulatory surgical facilities;
- To ensure that these standards are maintained in the day-to-day operation of the facility (In-House QualityAssurance Program).
Safety and Equipment Guidelines
Surgery today requires sophisticated instruments and monitoring devices. In a CAAASF accredited facility, procedures are performed in a modern operating suite with equipment necessary to ensure the safest possible operating conditions. Proper space for the safe evacuation of patients in the event of fire must be assured. Emergency electrical power must be available in case of power failure to allow surgery to continue safely.
A CAAASF accredited facility meets and may exceed, the same standards of safety and patient care as those required in a hospital outpatient unit. An accredited facility provides you with a safe environment specifically designed to accommodate your surgical needs.
Qualified Staff
All surgery performed in a CAAASF facility must be performed by a fully qualified surgeon who is certified by the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. He or she must be eligible to perform the same surgical procedures in an accredited hospital. This protects the public from surgeons who perform procedures for which they are not qualified. The assisting personnel must be appropriately certified for their role in an accredited facility, just as they would in a government hospital. In those facilities offering procedures done under a general anaesthetic, a certified anesthesiologist must administer the anaesthesia. To maintain accreditation, member facilities must provide evidence that the standards set by the CAAASF are adhered to in the day-to-day workings of the surgical unit. This is accomplished by written reports and facility inspections.
For further information you may contact: www.caaasf.org . The Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities, 2334 Heska Rd., Pickering, Ontario, L1V 2P9. 1-905-831-5804
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