It's a popular idea on this forum that if one has the means, they will of course opt for internal with
Paley/Guichet - this is simply not true.
The method of lengthening/doctor you choose should be a reflection of not only your finances, but a myriad of personal preferences.
It's an irritating response, but there really is no best doctor.
*Paley/Guichet may charge a fair bit, but I have read nothing on these forums that would ever cause me to believe either one is a scam
Whereintheworld, respectfully, the fact that there really is no best doctor is not entirely true. There are hundreds of medical practitioners that do CLL nowdays, in various facilities of various quality and safety in terms of staff and equipment and with various degrees of expertise.
The reason most people here are advocating for Paley/Guichet is because of their level of expertise with the procedure, their involvement with innovating and refining the respective nails they use (Precise/Guichet), their safety track record and the quality of their facilities and their staff. All of this has to be taken into account when saying someone is the "best" doctor.
Dr. Paley has been doing this procedure for decades. Assuming accuracy in his statements, no one has done more limb lengthening procedures than him worldwide, and other doctors study under him (Dr. Lee, for instance, who also seems very popular and reputable). Dr. Guichet uses a different nail that he invented that is (apparently) the only fully weight-bearing nail, and his patients seem to get consistently good results (albeit, apparently, with a higher degree of pain than the Precise). Tradeoffs with Dr. Guichet being a much faster recovery time given physical preparation.
IMHO, there is a tier of doctors I would rule out immediately based on criteria such as experience, facilities, support staff, etc. It's the same reason someone with cancer would opt into MD Anderson or Hopkins if they had the financial means to do so and were accepted, vs. whatever local facilities are available: mortality rates at those centers are much lower than everywhere else, and the world's top physicians, equipment and staff are there to treat you. Grading becomes harder when you add in very credible surgeons such as Dr. Birkholz, Dr. Lee, etc. So I absolutely do think there is a small tier of physicians that can safely claim the top spot.
For me, it's Dr. Paley or Dr. Guichet based mostly on experience, safety and patient recovery. This is not a procedure anyone should gamble with. My opinions only.