[mickiko August 1, 2012 at 8:54 pm Post count: 20]

#1059246

Does anyone out there have a recommendation on an Ophthalmologist in the LA area for initial evaluation of Grave’s ophthalmopathy? Also, do you have a recommendation on an Oculo-Plastic surgeron for cosmetic surgery from Grave’s ophtalmopathy?

Many Thanks!!!!
MK

[gatorgirly August 2, 2012 at 9:30 am Post count: 326]

#1173325

Hi MK,

I’m in MA so I can’t help you with a referral but I just wanted to point out that orbital decompression is the surgery to which I think you are referring, and it is not cosmetic. It is considered by both surgeons and insurance companies to be medically necessary, as are the strabismus and eyelid retraction surgeries.

While you’re waiting for a response, you can go to http://www.gdatf.org/registry/search/ to find physicians who have either been recommended by members here or who have indicated that they treat Graves patients.

[KimberlyOnline Facilitator August 2, 2012 at 1:02 pm Post count: 4294]

#1173326

Hello – In addition to gatorgirly’s suggestion, you can also search at http://www.asoprs.org.

(Note on links: if you click directly on the above link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

The “Find a Surgeon” option is on the blue header towards the top of the screen. This organization is the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, and these doctors are usually more familiar with Graves’ complications than other eye docs. You can search by city, state, or zip code.

Take care!

[mickiko August 2, 2012 at 11:34 pm Post count: 20]

#1173327

Thank you so much! I am learning a great deal here.
Your suggestions are very helpful. Thanks!!!

[snelsen August 3, 2012 at 8:50 am Post count: 1909]

#1173328

Hi Micki,
I have checked the reference for finding surgeons Kimberly suggested in her post. My experience, using it for myself, that it is kind of helpful. Not a lot. This is a new site, and just building up.
But, it seems that the same information can be obtained from the yellow pages, and sometimes more information. When I looked it up for my own area, the “go-to” oculoplastics surgeon that many docs recommended was not listed on the site, although he is a member of the national organization.

What I think you mean, when you are looking for a surgeon, is the same thing most of us want. And definitely what I want.

In the ideal world, we want to use every possible resource to find about a doc who will be the best surgeon for us, who has had a lot of experience,and with good results. AND. a nice person, as a fringe benefit. We want to find out how many procedures he/she do a year, and we want to know their complication rates, and what the complications were. But this is very difficult information to know, that is for sure!

In answer to your question about surgeons in L.A. area, when I have time, I will send a PM about what I have learned, since I am exploring the same area for the same reasons.
In the meantime, if you put Jules Stein in the search engine in this forum, you will discover a name or two of docs at the Jules Stein Center. I am not home right now, but I have a list of 2 or 3 more in your area, whom were recommended to me (at my request) from a surgeon in the Midwest.
The part we really don’t know, is WHY I am getting these names. Is it because they see each other at national conferences, and are familiar names? Or that they are friends? Hard to know this. I have found there is NO WAY to find out the complication rates of a surgeon with a procedure. But I know they are readily available, for I worked in a hospital in a surgery department, and they have meetings about this subject every month.

In an attempt to go someplace else, I have explored the area of where you are living. I have found that if you can talk to other TED or Graves patients who have already had surgery, you learn a lot~!
I have to go now, but will reply more later
Shirley

[snelsen August 3, 2012 at 9:27 am Post count: 1909]

#1173329

There are two people on this site who have recently posted, both went to Jules Stein in L.A.
Shirley

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