Re: How many orthognathic surgeries should an OS be doing a year?

[Guest guest]

That's not necessarily a bad sign... But I will tell you that my

surgeon did at least three the morning I had mine, and maybe more. He'd

done more than 1700 when he got to me, back in 2002. Lord only knows

how many he's done now...

I wouldn't say you're worrying about nothing. I would suggest that you

speak candidly with him, with your ortho and with your general dentist

(and any other dental specialists who advise you and know your mouth)

about this. It could also be that he has a partner who will assist in

your surgery who has thousands of notches in his belt, so to speak.

If you trust him, feel you can work with him, like his general

approach, that counts for a lot. But yes. To me, 8 would be a very low

number.

Cammie

> I asked my surgeon how many he did last year and was shocked to hear

> that he only did about 8 of them... Does that seem as low to me as it

> does to you?

>

> I kind of overlooked this fact though, because my OS was the former

> head of a big local hospital's oral surgery department... am i

> worrying about nothing

[Guest guest]

I don't know how many orthognathic surgeries my surgeon has done, but

when I was lying on the table getting prepped, the anesthesiologist

told me they'd done 6,000 together since the 1970s.

Now, he is an older gentleman and at the top of his profession, and

I'm sure other surgeons would do a fine job. But from my post-op

perspective, I would not want anyone other than a specialist

performing my surgery. It's too delicate a procedure, too important to

physical functioning and appearance.

Luna

[Guest guest]

Cammie - My OMS told me that he averages between 8 and 12 of these

procedures each year, and THE reason he doesn't do more of them is

because of the poor insurance coverage for these surgeries. The

largest insurance company in Idaho is Blue Cross, and Orthognathic

Surgery is an excluded benefit. Regence Blue Shield of Idaho only

pays $2K. My insurance is thru my employer, which is the largest

hospital system in the state. He told me that when he first began

practicing here in 1993, the insurance coverage was better, and he

averaged 20+ of these procedures every year. People just can't afford

to have this surgery if they have to pay out of their own pockets; in

my case, I will be using a payment plan. I will also be having my

BSSO (mandibular set-back) and LeFort I (maxillary advancement) at a

short-term hospital where my Surgeon has surgical privileges; the

fees will be at least one-third of what my employer/hospital would

charge me ($10K PER procedure at my hosp.). I Trust my OMS; he is

very well qualified to perform my Orthognathic Surgery (went to Univ.

of Nebraska Med. Center for his OMS 5-year Residency, earning his

M.D. degree at the same time). But, getting back to the subject, I

don't think that the surgeons who do lots of these surgeries each

year are any more qualified OR do a better job than those who do a

dozen per year. ~~~ Diane (Idaho)

> > I asked my surgeon how many he did last year and was shocked to

hear

> > that he only did about 8 of them... Does that seem as low to me

as it

> > does to you?

> >

> > I kind of overlooked this fact though, because my OS was the

former

> > head of a big local hospital's oral surgery department... am i

> > worrying about nothing

[Guest guest]

My OMS told me he does about 4-5 a year. On top of that, he gets

patients who've had their jaws broken in barfights. That would be

much less controlled conditions, and admirable I think. I see him

again in Sept.

~Joanne

[Guest guest]

The most important thing for you, Dianne, I think, is that you've

found an expert with whom you can work, and in whom you can place

your trust.

I agree that there are always reasons, and your guy has given you a

good one.

I was glad my guy had done a lot of them, but all surgeons have to

begin somewhere, and as long as they're up on their skills and

procedures, more power to them!

Cammie

> > That's not necessarily a bad sign... But I will tell you that my

> > surgeon did at least three the morning I had mine, and maybe

more.

> He'd

> > done more than 1700 when he got to me, back in 2002. Lord only

> knows

> > how many he's done now...

> >

> > I wouldn't say you're worrying about nothing. I would suggest

that

> you

> > speak candidly with him, with your ortho and with your general

> dentist

> > (and any other dental specialists who advise you and know your

> mouth)

> > about this. It could also be that he has a partner who will

assist

> in

> > your surgery who has thousands of notches in his belt, so to

speak.

> >

> > If you trust him, feel you can work with him, like his general

> > approach, that counts for a lot. But yes. To me, 8 would be a

very

> low

> > number.

> >

> > Cammie

[Guest guest]

My OMS does on average between two to 5 orthognathic surgeries a week

so in a year...you do the math. FYI my surgeon is Dr. Stephan Sachs

www.nycoms.com

Sara

> > > I asked my surgeon how many he did last year and was shocked to

> hear

> > > that he only did about 8 of them... Does that seem as low to me

> as it

> > > does to you?

> > >

> > > I kind of overlooked this fact though, because my OS was the

> former

> > > head of a big local hospital's oral surgery department... am i

> > > worrying about nothing