The Pacific Clinic - A Private Surgicenter The Pacific Clinic is located in the Pacific Professional Building, home to over 150 medical specialists, in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood. Our offices and clinic connect directly with the California Pacific Medical Center, a major San Francisco Medical Center and Hospital. The Pacific Clinic is composed of a preoperative room, an operating room, a recovery and overnight room, and a suture removal/treatment room, in addition to comfortable waiting rooms and offices. All of these facilities are for the specific and exclusive use of Dr. Ristow and his patients. We have on staff three Surgical Assistants, a circulating and recovery room RN, and two overnight personnel, of which at least one is an RN. The scheduling of surgery, admission, registration, required tests such as blood tests are all done in the privacy of our clinic. Unlike a hospital, were many different priorities exist, you, your well-being, and your aesthetic surgery results are the only relevant issues to the Pacific Clinic staff. The Clinic's capable and experienced nurses provide complete instructions before and after surgery. In addition, since a considerable number of our patients come from afar, we offer assistance in making local arrangements. Many patients remain in the Clinic recovery area overnight under the care of a nurse specifically trained in postoperative aesthetic surgery care. Our patients have appreciated this arrangement immensely. The special staff will provide competent and supportive care during the first postoperative night. Also, the small, intimate setting of a private office and clinic makes it efficient in preserving the confidentiality of the consultations and procedures. As an independent entity, the Pacific Clinic charges for its services separately from the professional surgical fees (as a hospital does). The business office will provide each patient with a statement of the Pacific Clinic expenses. These expenses are a direct function of the salaries of all specialized personnel, usage of the supplies and the time (in hours) necessary for each procedure. Recovery room charges are included in the Clinic's payment. Click here for special information regarding our out of town surgery patients. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Pacific Clinic in San Francisco, CA Your entire experience at Dr. Ristow's Pacific Clinic will be tailored to your specific needs. However, in order to help you better understand the procedures and amenities of our clinic, we have outlined a typical surgical experience for you below. The Plastic Surgery Consultation Within 24 hours of making a consultation appointment, we will mail you a complimentary, informative DVD and book entitled Modern Plastic Surgery , written by Dr. Ristow. This will explain our procedures, and help you formulate any questions you may have before we meet, so that the consultation can best serve your needs. At the personal consultation, Dr. Ristow will discuss your aesthetic goals. He will examine the specific issues involved, and explain and demonstrate the results you can expect. He will formulate a surgical plan, explain it to you, and discuss a pertinent informed consent. He will answer any questions you may have. His Head Nurse and his Patient Care Coordinator will also be at your disposal to give you additional answers, if you so desire. After your meeting, you will have the opportunity to visit with the Patient Care Coordinator and, if you wish, schedule your surgery. Your first visit to our office will take approximately one hour. Visit Prior To Surgery Date This office visit, conducted by our Patient Care Coordinator and the Head Nurse will be scheduled approximately two to three weeks prior to your surgical date. At that time, we will take your photographs and do laboratory work. We will also review your arrangements for rides home, home care, or hotel accommodations. The Head Nurse will also give instructions for your recovery period. The Day Of Surgery On the day of surgery, you will be welcomed once again to the private Pacific Clinic. Doctor Ristow will go over the photographs and the plan with you prior to any sedation as will your anesthesiologist and the staff will be at your disposal to answer any questions or fulfill any requests. Board Certified Anesthesiologists During surgery, the anesthesiologist carefully monitors the patient's condition with a continuous electrocardiograph to check the status of the heart from beat-to-beat. Automatic blood pressure measurements keep us informed of moment-to-moment changes in circulation, and continuous oximetry ensures that adequate amounts of oxygen are delivered to the lungs. In addition, pulse oximetry continually measures the amount of oxygen in the blood by a device that slips over the finger and infrared capnography monitors the adequacy of breathing. A skilled California Pacific Medical Center technician services this advanced equipment weekly. No effort has been spared to bring to the Pacific Clinic the most modern technology available to ensure patient security and comfort. Operating and Recovery Rooms These precautions continue into the recovery area that is adjacent to the operating room for safety, convenience and comfort. Here, essential monitoring equipment continues to be used as long as needed to detect any changes in the patient's status as they awaken from anesthesia. This modern, private, comfortable surgical/recovery facility meets the highest standards of safety required by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Plastic Surgery Facilities (AAAAPSF) which has certified The Pacific Clinic as a surgicenter. The Pacific clinic has global Accreditation by the Surgical Facility Resources, Inc. AAAASF International (one of six in the USA.)