Re: How to choose the best surgeon?

[Guest guest]

A cosmetic surgeon referred you? That's a bit of a red flag to me.

Most of us have been referred to surgeons by our orthodontists. I

suggest you get a consultation with an orthodontist first to see if

you actually need surgery.

If you get a referral, ask the surgeon how often he or she performs

orthognathic surgery and how long he or she has been doing it. Also

ask to see before and after pictures of former patients. It's also

important, I think, that you and the surgeon have a comfortable

rapport. A good bedside manner is important.

Best of luck!

> I need orthognathic surgery due to a small lower jaw. A cosmetic

> surgeon referred me to a doctor to perform the surgery but how can

I

> find out if he is the best? What education, experience... should

> he/she have? I would appreciate any information you can give me.

[Guest guest]

A cosmetic surgeon referred you? That's a bit of a red flag to me.

Most of us have been referred to surgeons by our orthodontists. I

suggest you get a consultation with an orthodontist first to see if

you actually need surgery.

If you get a referral, ask the surgeon how often he or she performs

orthognathic surgery and how long he or she has been doing it. Also

ask to see before and after pictures of former patients. It's also

important, I think, that you and the surgeon have a comfortable

rapport. A good bedside manner is important.

Best of luck!

> I need orthognathic surgery due to a small lower jaw. A cosmetic

> surgeon referred me to a doctor to perform the surgery but how can

I

> find out if he is the best? What education, experience... should

> he/she have? I would appreciate any information you can give me.

[Guest guest]

A cosmetic surgeon referred you? That's a bit of a red flag to me.

Most of us have been referred to surgeons by our orthodontists. I

suggest you get a consultation with an orthodontist first to see if

you actually need surgery.

If you get a referral, ask the surgeon how often he or she performs

orthognathic surgery and how long he or she has been doing it. Also

ask to see before and after pictures of former patients. It's also

important, I think, that you and the surgeon have a comfortable

rapport. A good bedside manner is important.

Best of luck!

> I need orthognathic surgery due to a small lower jaw. A cosmetic

> surgeon referred me to a doctor to perform the surgery but how can

I

> find out if he is the best? What education, experience... should

> he/she have? I would appreciate any information you can give me.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the reply mstiness, Actually I've been going to an

orthodontist since I was 8 years old. I've had the headgear, tongue

thrust, braces for 3 years, bands,.... I had braces from 10 years

old and had them removed when I was 13. Too early to say the

least.... My overbite relapsed and my ortho said that I needed

surgery. He referred me to a surgeon but wasn't to keen about him.

My mom goes to a cosmetic surgeon in Cincinnati who is awesome. When

she went for an annual visit I asked him to take a look at me and

see if there was anything he could do to correct my overbite. He

said no and that I would need surgery. I asked him if he knew of a

great maxillofacial surgeon and he said yes. The doctor he referred

me to teaches at the University of Cincinnati... Sounds great but

I'm just wanting to do more homework for myself.

> > I need orthognathic surgery due to a small lower jaw. A cosmetic

> > surgeon referred me to a doctor to perform the surgery but how

can

> I

> > find out if he is the best? What education, experience... should

> > he/she have? I would appreciate any information you can give me.

[Guest guest]

If the referral is from a doctor you trust (regardless of

specialty), then I see no reason not to meet with the oral surgeon.

The points that mstiness made regarding what to ask and see are a

good start. I also recommend taking your gut instinct into account

when you do meet any new doctor. Most people seem to be referred to

their OS via an orthodontist, but it does happen the other way

around too. It was my OS who referred me to an ortho he worked with.

Good luck.

> > > I need orthognathic surgery due to a small lower jaw. A

cosmetic

> > > surgeon referred me to a doctor to perform the surgery but how

> can

> > I

> > > find out if he is the best? What education, experience...

should

> > > he/she have? I would appreciate any information you can give

me.

[Guest guest]

If the referral is from a doctor you trust (regardless of

specialty), then I see no reason not to meet with the oral surgeon.

The points that mstiness made regarding what to ask and see are a

good start. I also recommend taking your gut instinct into account

when you do meet any new doctor. Most people seem to be referred to

their OS via an orthodontist, but it does happen the other way

around too. It was my OS who referred me to an ortho he worked with.

Good luck.

> > > I need orthognathic surgery due to a small lower jaw. A

cosmetic

> > > surgeon referred me to a doctor to perform the surgery but how

> can

> > I

> > > find out if he is the best? What education, experience...

should

> > > he/she have? I would appreciate any information you can give

me.

[Guest guest]

If the referral is from a doctor you trust (regardless of

specialty), then I see no reason not to meet with the oral surgeon.

The points that mstiness made regarding what to ask and see are a

good start. I also recommend taking your gut instinct into account

when you do meet any new doctor. Most people seem to be referred to

their OS via an orthodontist, but it does happen the other way

around too. It was my OS who referred me to an ortho he worked with.

Good luck.

> > > I need orthognathic surgery due to a small lower jaw. A

cosmetic

> > > surgeon referred me to a doctor to perform the surgery but how

> can

> > I

> > > find out if he is the best? What education, experience...

should

> > > he/she have? I would appreciate any information you can give

me.

[Guest guest]

I've known I needed surgery for a long time and when I actually

decided it was time and I had the proper medical coverage, I asked my

family doctor to recommend a surgeon and he in turn recomended my

ortho, I know it sounds kind of backwards but it worked for me.

Marsha

> > > > I need orthognathic surgery due to a small lower jaw. A

> cosmetic

> > > > surgeon referred me to a doctor to perform the surgery but

how

> > can

> > > I

> > > > find out if he is the best? What education, experience...

> should

> > > > he/she have? I would appreciate any information you can give

> me.