Australia: surgeon

[TwitBerry]

You might want to at least consult with Dr. Mahony. I believe he focuses on facial features and bite.

http://www.fullfaceorthodontics.com/

[Huggypillow]

" lack of medical professionals" i highly doubt it sorry, and this post by any means is not meant to offend you in any way but i have been reading along with your postings.

Firstly there are many very skilled maxillio specialists here in Australia, try Melbourne or Sydney beleive it or not many of our Dr's have been leading the way lately with new surgical proceedures that they are teaching the rest of the world.

I was kinda upset when i felt you were trashing the surgical options here, i work in the medical field and ive seen whats here and its world class.

If you want an Orthodontist that has a speciality with surgery then contact the Australian Orthodontic Society they are registered via their speciality.

There are many ways to find a top rate Dr here to do what you want just take your time google if you can and some names should start popping up.

[maksimilijan1]

@twitBerry: thanks for the suggestion, I'll look into this one if I can find any further information.

@Huggypillow: I'm not offended by any means, and thanks for your post. When I said "lack of medical professionals" I was referring to a reality in our country - attracting doctors and skilled medical professionals from overseas, and in particular specialists, is very high on the Australian Government immigration agenda (I work for the Government and I know what I'm talking about). We spend millions of dollars every year on marketing and promotion overseas targeted to doctors. I'm not saying that those that we do have here are not good enough, but the lack of them itself (in numbers) creates an environment where the patient ultimately suffers. It's not unusual to have to wait for months to see a specialist (e.g. I waited 5 to see a gastroenterologist), and my cost for the 20 minutes I got with him (the doctor immigrated here from China by the way) was enormous (Medicare covered only a portion). Most of the times I had to see a doctor, he or she happens to be from overseas, because of the lack of skilled professionals here. My current GP is born and trained in Sri Lanka. Have you ever needed to attend an emergency medical service? I hope not, because you would have seen what I mean by "lack" here.

I tried to make an appointment with a well-known Sydney orthodontist, and was told early August is the earliest I can see him and it will cost me $460 just to be evaluated. When I asked if this will be deducted from the cost of the treatment later, I was told "no". If I want to see several, and as a consumer and a patient I have that right, the cost may well run into $1000s and it will take months - time that I do not quite have, and more importantly money that I couldn't possibly afford. In most developed countries (EU, Canada) orthodontist consultations and orthodontist services are free of charge. For me, only the cost of consultations and braces will reach about $10,000 (especially if I decide to go for lingual or ceramic ones, which concerning my age it would be a good idea).

If I didn't believe we had orthodontists that can help me, I wouldn't have posted here asking for help (names). So, I guess you misunderstood my posts - I know there are, I just don't know their names. Two of the orthodontists I've talked to in Canberra have little to none experience in surgical orthodontics that doesn't give me the confidence needed for me to pay them thousands of dollars for their services. That's why I turned my search to Sydney. As for the surgeons - I did see the most experienced (according to my GP) in Canberra (I can give you his name if interested) and he did tell me he performs 2 to 3 orthognathic surgeries per year, and mostly on children. His words, not mine. I don't know about you, but for me skills and experience are positively correlated. The former builds upon the latter. If the surgery is free of charge, as it is in the UK for example, I can put up with a less experienced surgeon (maybe, I don't know). If I have to pay over $10,000, I know for a fact I'll make sure that I won't be operated by someone who performs 2-3 surgeries per year, mostly on children. And if he's the most experienced in my city, no doubt I'll look somewhere else, even overseas if I can get a better value. Which apparently, I can.

So, my decision is this - I will have to choose an Australian orthodontist, no matter how expensive they are, because I live here and this is where my home is. I'll try to make an informed decision. However, as far as the surgery goes, Europe, Canada or even the States is a much better option for me, and there is no doubt in my mind about that.

[Huggypillow]

Dont worry i work public service so your not telling me anything i dont know first hand, but yes it is disgusting that we have to search and search for a Dr in a field that should be well staffed with highly skilled professionals.

Perhaps i can suggest Singapore i have had treatment there myself for a different problem i went private all the way and the skill sets were second to none, they have a large pool in the maxillo and plastic fields. The treatment that i have had could not have been better.

The public system here is completely screwed up and the waiting lists are basically full of time wasters and people who can afford private cover but refuse to.

Have you considered withdrawing from your super under medical, i ended up having to because i was in dire need of treatment and not in a position to cover the costs. I can give you more info if you think you may go that way. Because after you spend the money you can claim it back in your tax return.

[coconutqueen]

Have you ever needed to attend an emergency medical service? I hope not, because you would have seen what I mean by "lack" here.

That's a bit of a generalisation. I've had personal experience of emergency at RNSH in Sydney (having suffered a broken neck in a surfing accident) and was placed in the hands of a top surgical team and some amazing nursing staff.

[maksimilijan1]

I didn't know that withdrawing from my super is an option, but that's good to know - I might have to look into it, although hopefully I won't have to. Thanks for pointing it out!

Singapore is a country I haven't considered, although it makes sense. Their GDP per capita is among the highest in the world, and the level of medical care must be very advanced there.

[maksimilijan1]

Oh, no doubt they have the skills in emergency wards in Sydney. I was thinking of a TV report that pointed out to the fact that even patients with severe chest pain (potential heart-attack patients), have to wait long hours before they are admitted. It's just that coming from Europe, these things are shocking to me. I had seen it in American movies, I didn't know it was Australian reality as well. Australia could afford better - it is one of the most advanced economies in the world that got out practically unhurt from the global financial crisis. We should know better as Australians. Especially those of us that grew up in Europe and never had to pay even a cent for a top medical care.

Have you ever needed to attend an emergency medical service? I hope not, because you would have seen what I mean by "lack" here.

That's a bit of a generalisation. I've had personal experience of emergency at RNSH in Sydney (having suffered a broken neck in a surfing accident) and was placed in the hands of a top surgical team and some amazing nursing staff.

[coconutqueen]

Oh, no doubt they have the skills in emergency wards in Sydney. I was thinking of a TV report that pointed out to the fact that even patients with severe chest pain (potential heart-attack patients), have to wait long hours before they are admitted. It's just that coming from Europe, these things are shocking to me. I had seen it in American movies, I didn't know it was Australian reality as well. Australia could afford better - it is one of the most advanced economies in the world that got out practically unhurt from the global financial crisis. We should know better as Australians. Especially those of us that grew up in Europe and never had to pay even a cent for a top medical care.

Have you ever needed to attend an emergency medical service? I hope not, because you would have seen what I mean by "lack" here.

That's a bit of a generalisation. I've had personal experience of emergency at RNSH in Sydney (having suffered a broken neck in a surfing accident) and was placed in the hands of a top surgical team and some amazing nursing staff.

Yes, but you didn't differentiate.

And I wouldn't pay too much attention to what you see on ACA or Today Tonight, not to mention what comes out of the mouths of the radio schlock jocks. Which is not to say that some patients may have had to wait longer than is necessary for emergency care in some locations - I'm sure they have - but you could probably find as many who have had a favourable experience. Does the media tell you about them? Of course not.

It would be lovely not to have to pay a cent for medical care, but that is impractical when you consider the cost of providing it. I don't for one minute resent paying the Medicare levy; when I had my accident, all my surgery and care costs were covered. But this is where things get a little bizarre. I had the choice of going in as a Medicare or private patient (I do have hospital cover). Either way, the docs and nursing care were the same. The only difference would have been that - as a private patient - I would have had to pay gap expenses! Go figure, as they say in the US.

[laksjdlkasd]

Man I hate how this message board deletes you for inactivity all the time.. I'm running out of emails to use and username ideas.

I just wanted to share my experience with you, maybe you'll find this useful.

I went to an orthodontic practice to see an orthodontist who had a special interest in serious jaw issues, and works closely with a ortho surgeon for these cases.

Throughout the process they consulted me about the aesthetics as well as the bite benefits.

While I'm not 100% happy (still have asymmetry which I feel wasn't totally addressed, and serious gum recession on one tooth due to thin gums to begin with) I have to say I'm quite happy. They paid attention to the shape of my profile, chin, jaws, gummy smile, and had a crack at the asymmetry issue. I've also got no numbness on my face and minor numbness in my upper jaw gums 8 months after the surgery.

Didn't have to be wired shut, pain wasn't too bad at all, lots of compliments in the past few months.

Cost all up for surgery (surgeon, assistant surgeon, anesthesia) was a little under 9000 before medicare and health care.

Surgeon was Dr Peter Mouser.

Another surgeon that was very highly recommended by an orthodontist I had a consultation with was Dr Lydia Lim but her wait list was way too long for me.

These are Sydney surgeons. Hope that helps

[lundberg]

Hello everyone,

I will be having Bimax double jaw surgery + genioplasty in Australia in the next couple of months. I read multiple cases of inexperienced surgeons in Sydney/Melbourne that made terrible mistakes with their patients and I have no idea which surgeon to choose. Can anyone please recommend a good and experienced surgeon in Sydney/Melbourne?

I can't find any reviews or stories about them and this is making the decision really hard.

Thanks in advance!