RE: length of treatment in starband vs DOC

[Guest guest]

My son's asymmetry was 20 mm and he started DOC band treatment at 5 1/2 months. He grew out of his first band in 12 weeks. At this point (8 1/2 months old) he was down to 9 mm. He started his second DOC at 9 1/2 months old. He's been in it for almost 9 weeks and they expect him to wear it for another 3. So, a total 24 weeks. We are very pleased with the results. His head shape looks almost perfect ...it better be for 6 months and $6000!!

What insurance do you have?

-----Original Message-----From: Plagiocephaly [mailto:Plagiocephaly ]On Behalf Of bryced2007Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:40 PMPlagiocephaly Subject: length of treatment in starband vs DOC

In your experiences or from what you have heard, do you feel that the lenght of tx with both bands in equal. I ask because I was told at CT that tx would be 2-3 months and at the Starband place it would be like 4-5 months. When i called CT to ask how this time frame could be different, they stated that correcton would be 75% after this time frame. They stated that he may need another helmet...but he may not. I just don't know what to think. My sons assemetry is 18mm and he is 5 months one week old. One of the reasons that I am going with Starband is that in the event he needs longer than 16 weeks...we have the time in the starband. My ins wont even consider cranial tech and we could end up paying almost $8000 if he needs a second helmet. Opinions, experiences, advice, suggestions..........

[Guest guest]

Also, I'm not sure how Starband works, but we saw the most improvement in our son's asymmetry and head shape in the first month of treatment with both bands. It seems that the "holding points" work best when the band is new (at least in the case of the DOC). Is the Starband adjusted by shaving the foam on the inside? The last month in my son's first DOC, we saw a little improvement, but not a ton. At the time I thought it was because his asymmetry wasn't as severe as it was in the beginning, so I didn't notice it as much. But, as soon as he started wearing the second band, we couldn't believe how much improvement we saw within the first week or so.

-----Original Message-----From: Plagiocephaly [mailto:Plagiocephaly ]On Behalf Of Staci HydeSent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:52 PMPlagiocephaly Subject: RE: length of treatment in starband vs DOC

My son's asymmetry was 20 mm and he started DOC band treatment at 5 1/2 months. He grew out of his first band in 12 weeks. At this point (8 1/2 months old) he was down to 9 mm. He started his second DOC at 9 1/2 months old. He's been in it for almost 9 weeks and they expect him to wear it for another 3. So, a total 24 weeks. We are very pleased with the results. His head shape looks almost perfect ...it better be for 6 months and $6000!!

What insurance do you have?

-----Original Message-----From: Plagiocephaly [mailto:Plagiocephaly ]On Behalf Of bryced2007Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:40 PMPlagiocephaly Subject: length of treatment in starband vs DOC

In your experiences or from what you have heard, do you feel that the lenght of tx with both bands in equal. I ask because I was told at CT that tx would be 2-3 months and at the Starband place it would be like 4-5 months. When i called CT to ask how this time frame could be different, they stated that correcton would be 75% after this time frame. They stated that he may need another helmet...but he may not. I just don't know what to think. My sons assemetry is 18mm and he is 5 months one week old. One of the reasons that I am going with Starband is that in the event he needs longer than 16 weeks...we have the time in the starband. My ins wont even consider cranial tech and we could end up paying almost $8000 if he needs a second helmet. Opinions, experiences, advice, suggestions..........

[Guest guest]

We have BCBS fed program, basic option. Did you say your son wore both bands OR did you mean you have heard that both abnds give good results in the 1st month? Starband does the whole shaving the foam thing every week or 2, depending on growth. I am glad that I finially am talking to someone who has a similar severe assemetry. this process has been totally exhausting!!!!!!!!!!!

length of treatment in starband vs DOC

In your experiences or from what you have heard, do you feel that the lenght of tx with both bands in equal. I ask because I was told at CT that tx would be 2-3 months and at the Starband place it would be like 4-5 months. When i called CT to ask how this time frame could be different, they stated that correcton would be 75% after this time frame. They stated that he may need another helmet...but he may not. I just don't know what to think. My sons assemetry is 18mm and he is 5 months one week old. One of the reasons that I am going with Starband is that in the event he needs longer than 16 weeks...we have the time in the starband. My ins wont even consider cranial tech and we could end up paying almost $8000 if he needs a second helmet. Opinions, experiences, advice, suggestions. .........

[Guest guest]

It is exhausting...I know what you are going through. But, we are so thankful and impressed with his improvement that we know we made the right decision. My son wore two DOC bands. DOC #1 and DOC #2 both gave him the most correction in the first month. It sounds like they are adjusted the same say. For the first one we had adjustments every week and with his current band, we've gone every two weeks (since his growth has slowed down with age).

We have BCBS of CA (but live in SC and are seen at CT in NC). Both of his bands ended up being covered out of network. We paid $3000 for each up front and were reimbursed for $1165 on each helmet. We ended up paying a total of $2670 for 6 months of treatment and two bands.

-----Original Message-----From: Plagiocephaly [mailto:Plagiocephaly ]On Behalf Of PalmerSent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:08 PMPlagiocephaly Subject: Re: length of treatment in starband vs DOC

We have BCBS fed program, basic option. Did you say your son wore both bands OR did you mean you have heard that both abnds give good results in the 1st month? Starband does the whole shaving the foam thing every week or 2, depending on growth. I am glad that I finially am talking to someone who has a similar severe assemetry. this process has been totally exhausting!!!!!!!!!!!

length of treatment in starband vs DOC

In your experiences or from what you have heard, do you feel that the lenght of tx with both bands in equal. I ask because I was told at CT that tx would be 2-3 months and at the Starband place it would be like 4-5 months. When i called CT to ask how this time frame could be different, they stated that correcton would be 75% after this time frame. They stated that he may need another helmet...but he may not. I just don't know what to think. My sons assemetry is 18mm and he is 5 months one week old. One of the reasons that I am going with Starband is that in the event he needs longer than 16 weeks...we have the time in the starband. My ins wont even consider cranial tech and we could end up paying almost $8000 if he needs a second helmet. Opinions, experiences, advice, suggestions. .........

[Guest guest]

The DOCband from CT in only good for 16 weeks; after that it doesn't hold as

well. STARbands are good for 6 months therefore they can be worn longer

which is probably why the ortho says 4-5 months. I think they also tend to

overestimate the time so you won't be disappointed if it takes longer. We

were originally told 4-6 months and we were done in 20 weeks (appx 4.5

months). At five months of age your son is starting at a great age and

should see good correction regardless of which band you are using.

Molly

Novato, California

Nicolas, 2.5, tort & plagio, STARband (CIRS Oakland) 4/24/06-9/12/06,

Graduate!

, 5

, 8.5

length of treatment in starband vs DOC

In your experiences or from what you have heard, do you feel that the

lenght of tx with both bands in equal. I ask because I was told at CT

that tx would be 2-3 months and at the Starband place it would be like

4-5 months. When i called CT to ask how this time frame could be

different, they stated that correcton would be 75% after this time

frame. They stated that he may need another helmet...but he may not.

I just don't know what to think. My sons assemetry is 18mm and he is

5 months one week old. One of the reasons that I am going with

Starband is that in the event he needs longer than 16 weeks...we have

the time in the starband. My ins wont even consider cranial tech and

we could end up paying almost $8000 if he needs a second helmet.

Opinions, experiences, advice, suggestions..........

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