[Possibilities and limits of ambulatory surgery: demands and reality in plastic surgery]

With the development of office-based operating rooms and improved office anesthesia, the ability to perform more extensive surgery outside the hospital is now given. Experience with the tumescent technique for liposuction and abdominoplasty has demonstrated that extensive plastic surgery can performed with minimal postoperative discomfort. An emergency phone after surgery is necessary, and a call on the operating day evening and the initial postoperative day is a safe strategy with high patient acceptance for most types of plastic surgery. Additionally, the cost savings of office-based plastic surgery makes this surgery much cheaper for the patients and the health insurance organizations.