| The certificate | |
|---|---|
| Issuer | QUAD A (accrediting outpatient surgery centers since 1980; formerly AAAASF) |
| Level | Class C ambulatory surgery facility: one “in which major surgical procedures are performed under intravenous Propofol or general anesthesia with external support of vital organs” |
| Facility | Southwest Plastic Surgery, PA, El Paso, Texas (facility ID 8303) |
| Accredited since | October 10, 2022 |
| Annual expiration | October 27, 2027 |
| Standard | 100 percent compliance with every standard; no partial accreditation exists |
Dr. Frank Agullo brings it up in almost every consult. In his words, why.
What it covers, in plain terms
| Standard | What it means on your surgery day |
|---|---|
| Patient selection and assessment | You were cleared for this operation and this anesthesia before the date was booked |
| Anesthesia monitoring | Someone trained is watching you the entire time you are asleep |
| Infection control, hand hygiene, sterile instrument processing | Every instrument that touches you went through a checked process |
| Equipment testing | The machines were tested and maintained on a schedule |
| Emergency preparedness | The staff drill for emergencies, natural and otherwise, routinely |
| Specialty-specific training | Every nurse, technician and provider is trained for the job they are doing |
| Comprehensive discharge plan | You leave with a written plan and someone decided you were ready |
Why it changes what Dr. Agullo can do
“I perform most of my liposuction procedures under general anesthesia or IV sedation. I find that when the patient is comfortable during a liposuction procedure, I can be more aggressive in the areas that need it and remove as much fat as I need to, without any struggles for myself or the patient. I can also combine these procedures with skin tightening, such as Renuvion J-Plasma, BodyTite, or Quantum RF. Since I perform my procedures in a certified surgery center, certified by QuadA, I can safely remove up to five liters in one session.”
“All types of anesthesia are safe,” he tells the patients who ask for local only. The building it happens in is the variable.
What it is doing in the fee
“The fee covers the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesia, the accredited surgical facility, your medical tests, your garments, and your recovery products. Prescription medications from the pharmacy are the one thing you pay separately.”
“I allow sufficient operating room time to work in a paced fashion, for safety. Low-cost surgeries get compressed to cut anesthesia and operating room fees.”
“Our patients get direct nurse access 24 hours a day, and all surgeries are done in an accredited surgical center.”
If you are pricing the same surgery somewhere else
“They should make certain that they are having their procedure in a certified surgery center or hospital. They should also understand that they will have to be crossing the border for continued care and possible complications. There are plenty of great doctors and plastic surgeons in Mexico. Most of the well-experienced and highly regarded plastic surgeons will probably have similar surgeon’s fees. Where the patient will save is in the facility and anesthesia fees, the aftercare supplies, and nursing care. I always say that if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. I also remind them that revision work is far more expensive than having the surgery done correctly the first time.”
Ask for the certificate. Issuer, date, expiration.
After
“For large procedures, we offer an overnight stay in our surgical center, and my nurse does a post-operative in-person visit at the hotel or at their home 24 hours later.”
More: recovery at home, aftercare when your surgery was somewhere else. The surgical version is on agulloplasticsurgery.com; Dr. Agullo’s commentary is on drworldwide.com.
Why Choose Dr. Agullo
Dr. Frank Agullo is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, completed his plastic surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, and serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. He has been a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for thirteen consecutive years, 2014 through 2026. Every operation he performs is in the practice’s QUAD A Class C accredited surgery center.
Ready to Talk?
Call (915) 590-7900, text 1-866-814-0038, or book online at swplasticsurgery.com. #StayBeautiful
Find Dr. Agullo at @RealDrWorldWide on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, @Agullo on X, or @AgulloPlasticSurgery on Facebook.
