Re: Jocelyn/Dr. Hobar - plastic vs. neuro surgeon

[Guest guest]

Hi Jocelyn,

It is a shame that you will not be able to see Dr. Aronin again, she

sounds great. We were faced with all the same questions after we saw

the craniofacial specialist about Cole, except our Dr. didn't spend

nearly as much time with us or ask any questions. We also got Rx's

for both DOC and STAR. I was sooooo confused and sooooo scared I was

going to make the wrong choice. All I really wanted was for someone

just to tell me what to do, but the only answer I kept getting was

go with your instinct. Before the specialist said the " if it were my

Child I wouldn't band " line I was 100% sure I wanted to band Cole. I

spent hours that night thinking and staring at his head. All I could

imagine was what the kid in his class sitting in the desk behind him

was going to say about his flat head. I knew that if I did not go

ahead and band him that I would be so mad at myself if the repo'ing

didn't show any more correction. Cole isn't in daycare now, but I

never know when he may have to be so I was worried about them not

repo'ing him. I finally decided that we had to go ahead and band

him, then we were faced with the which band question. Our insurance

helped us make that decision though....STARband was covered at 100%

and we would have to pay for the DOCband out of pocket. Going with

the STARband would also save us alot of travel time. Once our minds

were made up to band Cole with the STARband we started reasearching

orthotists. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO FIND AN EXPERIENCED ORTHO!!!!

After we found an ortho that we wanted to use Cole was scanned in

the STARscanner and now he has been in his band for 1 week. It is

going wonderfully. Cole adjusted well, and I swear I can already see

correction. I understand how hard the decisions you are faced with

right now are, but just go with your instinct, and do what you feel

is best for your daughter. Good luck.

, mommy to Cole (STARband 7/22/04) and Eden

Lake Placid, Fl.

>

> >In this type of situation, plastic surgeons are

> >actually " craniofacial surgeons, " not aesthetic surgeons.

> >Craniosynostosis surgery is reconstructive. All craniofacial

teams

> >that I know of consist of a plastic surgeon and a neurosurgeon.

Dr.

> >Hobar actually heads up the craniofacial fellowship program for

UT

> >Southwestern Medical School.

> >

> >The mirco surgery skills which cosmetic surgeons have to master

make

> >them the specialty which does hand surgery and other delicate

> >surgeries.

> >

> >Even if your pediatrician's nurse is unaware of this, I would

think

> >the doctor should know. If you think she will act as a gatekeeper

> >and not ask the peditrician and/or poo-poo your request, you

might

> >want to call again.

> >

> >If you do a google search for craniosynostosis surgery, the point-

of-

> >entry for most patients is through a plastic surgeon's office,

not

> >necessarily a neurosurgeon. Actually, with my first referral, my

> >pediatrician actually referred to my cranialfacial specialist as

> >a " pediatric neurosurgeon " although he was actually a plactic

> >surgeon.

> >

> >Here is a link to the Children's Hospital Craniofacial Team. It

> >includes Dr Hobar's bio-

> >

> >www.kidsplastsurg.com/hobarbib.html

> >

> >Good luck.

> >

> >

> >--- In Plagiocephaly , " JocelynRM "

<jocelynrm@e...>

> >wrote:

> >

> >

> >>Thanks !

> >>

> >>I'm looking forward to meeting the people from this group with

all

> >>

> >>

> >the

> >

> >

> >>kudos they're getting!

> >>

> >>I'm hoping to get a referral from my pediatrician. The referral

> >>coordinator at my pediatricians office left a message saying

she'd

> >>check with my Ped, but that she didn't think " a plastic surgeon

> >>

> >>

> >would

> >

> >

> >>be the appropriate person to provide a second opinion for a

> >>neurosurgeon. " We'll see what happens.

> >>

> >>When we went to our second neurosurgeon appt. yesterday, she had

> >>called in sick. So, we're making the trek to Dr. Aronin's

office,

> >>

> >>

> >once

> >

> >

> >>again today.

> >>

> >>And...I just got a message saying that they were going to get

our

> >>

> >>

> >CT

> >

> >

> >>appt. scheduled for sometime tomorrow morning.

> >>

> >>Today is my first day back to work, but it seems that I won't be

> >>spending much time in the office this week.

> >>

> >>Oh, well...

> >>

> >>Jocelyn

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>--- In Plagiocephaly , kelly <docbandbabies@s...>

> >>

> >>

> >wrote:

> >

> >

> >>>HI Jocelyn,

> >>> We also went to Children's Medical in Dallas

to

> >>>

> >>>

> >see

> >

> >

> >>Dr. Hobar. Well we actually saw Trish on, the nurse

> >>practitioner, she is awesome, does very well with the kiddos.

You

> >>

> >>

> >can

> >

> >

> >>ask a ton of questions and they will answer everyone of them or

> >>

> >>

> >find

> >

> >

> >>someone who can. Good Luck and keep us posted.

> >>

> >>

> >>>

> >>> in Texas

> >>>Mom to , DOCband Grad 7/23/04

> >>>Plagio/Brachy(resolved)/Tort

> >>>

> >>>

> >>>Hey Everyone, Visit 's NEW Web Page at:

> >>>www.babiesonline.com/babies/k/kathryn9703

> >>>Make sure to Sign Her guestbook!!!

> >>>Banded Babies Are Beautiful

> >>>

> >>>

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >For more plagio info