Re: Discussed my nose with my surgeon

[Guest guest]

Hi Michele,

I think it is a fabulous idea to schedule with an ENT. And I would

also schedule with a Plastic Surgeon (PS) also. There are many who

specialize with noses and might have a better cosmetic result with

this. And a lot of PS offer free or low cost consults and usually

get you in within a week or so. You can call some and find out what

procedures they specialize if any, and ask them how many functional

septoplasties they do. And if you know of anyone who has had a

rhinoplasty that was well done, you could use a referral from them.

There are a lot of PS sites on the web that might be able to help

you with this if you are interested.

I am in the same situation as you. I know going in to this that I

wlll need a functional septoplasty for the upper part of my nose

post op. The OS is going to do a lower septoplasty as part of the

jaw surgery itself. One thing though, have you considered that the

OS didn't look in your nose, because your jaw isn't stable enough to

really probe your nasal area. Did you have lower part of the septum

relocated with your jaw surgery?

Rhinoplasty is a procedure that can really be physically demanding -

for the surgeon!! lol For septoplasty, they usually have to break

the nasal bone, or work with really dense cartilage and this can put

a lot of external pressure and forces on your nose and adjacent

structures. This can be too much for the delicate tissues of your

jaw that have just been reworked and reshaped. If you decide to go

with this, let not only the ENT or PS know about your surgery, but

perhaps have them consult with your OS to make sure your jaw will

handle the stresses of the nasal inspection at this point. It may

even be why your OS didn't look in your nose - your lower septum may

not be ready for that kind of invasive probing. Be sure and let

your ENT/PS know about your surgery before you let him/her do any

probing.

I hear you about your insurance, but if it is necessary surgery, and

you have problems and complications post op, having insurance can

make sure you get the complications fixed as a covered item, not

just the original problem. But because you are working with

recently revised bone and tissue, it may still be a waiting game to

do the revisions for your nose.

Is this insurance through your work? Are you thinking of switching

plans? If so, changing plans might not make you have a waiting

period for coverage, and will not have a pre-existing clause I don't

think. You could check with your HR department or whoever works

with your medical policy. They might be able to help you navigate

this better. If you have a private policy, I don't know if that

would hold true. I am trying to remember, but I think you posted

about this before and you do have a private policy. I am sorry I

don't remember specifically.

In any case, I think a second or even third opinion is a great

idea. I hope it goes well for you. Let us know what you find out!

Hugs,

Fran

> Hi everyone who has been following my nose saga,

>

> I discussed it with my surgeon, and he said he wanted to wait *6

> months* to reevaluate my nose. If I can't breathe better by then,

he

> will give me a referral to an ENT he knows. Personally, I was not

> satisfied with that answer. I can barely breathe out of the left

> nostril, I can physically feel the deviation in my septum, and

when I

> told my OS, he didn't even look into my nose to see what I was

> talking about! So, I went ahead and made an appointment with an

ENT

> myself. It can't hurt to get a second opinion, especially when

the

> first opinion didn't even examine my nose!

>

> Plus, I am spending close to $900/month on my health insurance so

I

> could get my jaw surgery, and now that the jaw surgery is over, I

> really want to cancel my policy and go with something cheaper.

> However, I have met my year out of pocket expense, and if I switch

> insurance, I will have to do that all over again if I wait to do

the

> septoplasty again. Or, I can wait the 6 months, and be out over

> $5000 for insurance. Geez, I could probably pay for the

septoplasty

> out of pocket for almost that.

>

> So, my appt with the ENT is July 29th, I will keep you all posted.

>

> Also, my surgeon said my swelling is about 90% gone, and I don't

have

> to see him again for 2 months. And, my lips are closing even more

> now, my front top teeth are still a good 3 mm from the bottom, so

> once the OD widens my top arch a bit and pulls my front teeth in,

I'm

> sure they will close.

>

> Thanks for listening!

>