Metal Mouth Message Board

I met with my potential OS (we'll call him OS#1) on the 16th. He advised me that I needed lower jaw surgery (to move it forward), two extractions from my lower jaw to make space and because of a crossbite I would also have to have upper jaw surgery at the same time. He stated that because of my age (35 now, 36 in January) that there was a 50/50 chance I would have PERMANENT numbness in my lower lip & chin.

To be honest this terrified me!! So I talked to my Ortho last week about my other options and he said that percentage was not accurate in his experience. He wants me to have a second opinion from a different OS (we'll call him OS#2), who is suppose to be the best of the best in this area (he's written text books, etc). The problem is my health insurance only covers certain OSs and the only one of those my Ortho even liked was OS#1 (who said 50/50).

Here are my concerns:
1) Is 50/50 a "true" percentage for people in their mid 30's?
2) If OS#2 ends up giving me better odds and is really more qulaified, do I still have surgery with OS#1 since he is in my Plan?
3) If not, how do I end up paying for OS#2 since not covered under ins?

Can y'all tell me about your experience with numbness as it relates to your age? Thanks guys, I am just really nervous about all this. My Ortho also was what would take OS#1 six hours would only take this OS#2 about two hours - he is suppose to be that good. Thanks, Hedybleu

This is a bit strange. I don't know if numbness has much to do with age. And if you look around this board, you will see that many people have had surgery in their thirties, forties, and even fifties, and permanent numbness is pretty rare. I don't think 50% is realistic. Also, I don't know if faster surgery is better! I had a highly skilled, experienced surgeon and my surgery was six hours.

I don't really know what advice I can give you. I would go and meet with OS#2, and see what he has to say. I would also ask OS#1 some more questions, like why does he think you have such a high probability of numbness.

Also, you should know that there is ALWAYS a small chance of permanent numbness, regardless of how good your surgeon is. There are other risks as well, so make sure you fully understand what the procedure entails.

Hi hedybleu

I'm all most 12 weeks post Bimax (both jaws) surgery, I'm 34 and only my upper gums and left side of my upper palette and lip are still partially numb. I fully expect the feeling to return at some point and hardly notice it anyway! I was initially numb from the lower eyelids down but it faded quite rapidly.

Sorry I can't help with regard to the your insurance and surgeon choice as I'm on UK NHS, but I'm sure others on here will have more advice for you on that score!

All the best!

hedybleu,

I think numbness has to do with a lot of factors, such as how healthy a person is pre-surgery, nutrition, etc. Also, where your jaw nerves are located and if they are manipulated (touched, moved).

My OS told me I should get most to all of my feeling back - it just depends on how long it takes. I am 7 weeks post-op (BSSO) and I have almost total feeling back in my lower lip. The chin is still a little numb, but I can feel it improving, too. I don't even notice the numbness now.

I don't have numbness anywhere else. I'm 47!

Lo

I'm 53y.o. scheduled to have an advancement BSSO. My OS quoted me a permanent numbness rate of something like 10%. He also said something like 15% if a genioplasty is added. I would definitely go to the more skilled and experienced surgeon even if you have to pay everything in cash or a significant percentage because he is out of network. I don't know what your insurance is like, but typically if you go out of network a portion is still covered by the insurance it is just less than if you stay in network. My insurance is covering nothing, zip, zero. The whole thing is going to set me back a ton of dough. My philosophy is, hey this is like the cost of a new car. I could figure out a way to pay off new car, so I can pay off this surgery. I'll just forego a new car for another four years and that will be that. Good luck.

Thanks everyone for letting me know your experiences with this situation. And Meryaten - thanks for the links and resources.

I spoke with OS#2's scheduler and have an appointment with him 9/12/07. There is no charge for the intial consult, so I will see what he has to say, his costs, etc and then determine what direction to go. I am lucky enough to be heading into my Company's open benefit enrollment period in October, so if needed I can try to "rework" my ins. coverage (hopefully) to my benefit.

Please continue to share as this is all very informative! Thanks, Hedybleu