Re: Question for Aruwoman about Dr. Guerrero

January 27, 2005

Nathalie,

I am interested in having surgery in Venezuela in hope that all surgical fees

and hospital expenses would be much cheaper than in the US. May I ask how much

did it cost you roughly in total for surgery expense? Is it realistic planing

to have orthodontist in America nut having surgery in Venezuela? Do you think

your surgeon (if I contact him) would agree/ be able to work with my ortho in

the US (illinois) ? Also how often I have to visit surgeon pre/post surgery (to

calculate air fares)? I really want to do surgery and my ortho reccommend me to

do to correct my bite problem (upper, lower, geneio); but since I am not a US

citizen, most insurance in America for foreigners do not cover this jaw surgery

(they say it is preexisting condition!) I definitely need 5 more years to

afford the whole cost of surgery in America. This makes me feel desparate? and

also may I ask have you ever seen or do no know that your surgeon, Dr. Guerrero

, do some thing like this before?

Thanks so much for your info.

aruwoman <no_reply > wrote:

I've been an exception to the rule: had the braces on for 1 month

before surgery and 6 months after they came off already! Am in

retainers now. Check out my website for before/after pics:

www.oehlers.net/jawsurgery

Nathalie

>

> Hello Everybody

>

> Before I start I'd like to thank everyone who has posted both

> questions/commennts and responses and pictures. All have been very

> helpful!

>

> I am wondering how long patients were wearing braces before their

> surgery??? I have been given a couple of different timeframes, one

> from my OS and one from my insurance company.

>

> Any help???

>

> Thank you

> K

---------------------------------

January 28, 2005

Hi, I missed your note.

My insurance covered the cost, but if I had to pay it myself it would

have come to approx $5000-$7000 (for lower advancement, SARPE and

genio)all included. Dr. Guerrero worked with my ortho who works in

Aruba (where I live), so it shouldn't be a problem to work with an

ortho in the states. I personally did not visit the surgeon pre-

surgery: I went to Venezuela, stayed a week and left. Within that

week I had all checkups/pictures, the surgery and pictures after.

Before that week, I had sent my ortho models and other health

requirements info already to them. I can imagine that you would like

to see him before surgery to ask questions though, so you'd have to

make an appointment then. He is a very busy man but if you give me

your e-mail, I can forward his e-mail address and phone number to

you.

Nathalie

> >

> > Hello Everybody

> >

> > Before I start I'd like to thank everyone who has posted both

> > questions/commennts and responses and pictures. All have been

very

> > helpful!

> >

> > I am wondering how long patients were wearing braces before their

> > surgery??? I have been given a couple of different timeframes,

one

> > from my OS and one from my insurance company.

> >

> > Any help???

> >

> > Thank you

> > K

>

> ---------------------------------

>

January 28, 2005

Thank you very much for your info. sharing, Nathalie. Your information and

experience lighten me up for the hope of surgery. I do really want to see Dr.

Guerrero one time before putting my brace. Below is my email address:

arwipaween@...

Thank you.

Sandy.

By the way, you have a real nice facial profile!!! Congrats!!