Quote from: stanmarsh on January 27, 2016, 07:03:50 AMHello Dr franz
Can you tell us how to choose a doctor? The obvious criteria are what method he offers and how fluent and honest he is at explaining stuff.
Other than this we are all medical laymen who just can't tell the difference between very basic things. It becomes hard to decide especially if we don't have 150k dollars for this surgery and recovery.
Is there a set of important things to consider?
Also many docs have little cosmetic LL experience but have good correctional experience. Is this a factor to consider?
We sincerely appreciate your presence here. Than you.
This is a good question. Please bear in mind that my answer is not intended in any way to try and gain more patients. I have enough work as it is.
If I choose a surgeon I look for honesty, integrity, skill and the ability to form a relationship of trust. Pretty much in that order. Price should be the least important consideration. Also, do not choose a surgeon based on the technique yo want. If your limb lengthening surgeon is not comfortable performing individualised surgery (ie different types / techniques) I would look elsewhere.
Although CLL experience is reasonably important, bear in mind that generally CLL is technically a lot easier than correction of deformity, restoration of leg length discrepancy or restoration of non-unions of bone defects. I would much rather choose someone with a lot of experience in different techniques and who is comfortable preventing and managing complications in difficult cases. He or she should then be much more comfortable in performing 'simple' lengthenings.
I can not choose your surgeon, but be careful because you need to trust this person implicitly. The wrong choice can ruin your life and give you bigger problems than height dysphoria.