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[programdude]

For example with invisalign, once you get the consultation which is free, and if you pay for the x rays and mold of your teeth- they will put it towards the overall costs in some cases. One of the major turn offs for getting consultations is the very high cost of it for an already incredibly expensive operation.

[BilateralDamage]

Depends on your doctor, but no, my consultation costs with Dr. Paley are not going towards the surgery.  In the long run, it doesn't matter, what's saving $350 on a $90,000 bill? 

[programdude]

Well the ambition is to not have it be 90k when all is said and done =/ I make about 120-150k a year but thats pre tax and am trying to save for a house.

[Disobedient]

one thing amazing here in india is  that the consultation is usually cost 1000 INR, and sometimes its for free !!!
it's like they begging you to have surgery with them.. I love that ,,,
back at home I used to pay 1000AED almost 330 USD for consultation .. unless if it was for medical purpose the insurance will cover it.. 

[BilateralDamage]

one thing amazing here in india is  that the consultation is usually cost 1000 INR, and sometimes its for free !!!
it's like they begging you to have surgery with them.. I love that ,,,

It would worry me if my doctor was begging me to do surgery with them..

Well the ambition is to not have it be 90k when all is said and done =/ I make about 120-150k a year but thats pre tax and am trying to save for a house.

90K is just the surgery.  Then I have living costs, caretaker expenses, flight travel, food, etc. I'm spending at least 100K on this surgery.  Fortunately, I have no other major expenses at this stage in my life so I was able to put all of my savings into this surgery.  You can also check if the hospital offers you any financing options if you don't want to pay it all at once.

[programdude]

its really hard to justify 100k, which would be the majority of my lifes savings. Something like 35-50 is doable and wouldnt feel too terrible, but 100k is some serious change.

[BilateralDamage]

its really hard to justify 100k, which would be the majority of my lifes savings. Something like 35-50 is doable and wouldnt feel too terrible, but 100k is some serious change.

Look around the forums, there's a lot of good doctors in your price range.  I made the choice to spend 100K because I wanted the most experienced doctor with a great track record.  Also, my situation is a bit of an anomaly because I paid for the surgery when I was 21 (I'm 22 now) and still have many more years to earn a lot more money.

[programdude]

I just turned 23 so I am young too, but still am focused on making the most of my hard earned cash. I've looked around, but for internal femurs I haven't been able to find anyone in that bracket of price. Thats the main reason bejing has tempted me even though the more I read, the more I would prefer internal femurs.

[BilateralDamage]

From what I've seen:

Dr. Birkholtz = a little over 50K, with PRECICE 2 and the package includes accomodations for 75 days
Dr. Inan = surgery is under 50K, uses newest generation of the Fitbone, does not include accommodations (total after additional expenses would be somewhere in the high 50Ks)
Dr. Jamal = the cheapest internal femur method (I believe around 35K?), but I wouldn't go to him right now given the amount of issues and surgeries his patients have needed for faulty clickers..
Dr. Elbatrawy = 48K for PRECICE 2, includes accomodations for 90 days.  But IMO I don't trust him as a doctor given some reports about him and his disregard of the possibility for certain complications (including compartment syndrome)

I used to be like you and would only look at this surgery from a cost-effective perspective, but then I realized we're talking about the sake of my legs.  The function of my legs are priceless and I would only let the best doctors operate on them.

[programdude]

Thanks for that info.

Its not that I don't value the expertise of the top dollar doctors or disregard my legs wellbeing, but I look at all factors. If I didn't care I'd just go with the dirt cheap doctors using a method that would have serious side effects.

I just dont think, unless I come into a HUGE amount of money, that I could justify the 90k price tag due to how much it would weigh down my ambitions.

Also unfortunately I know at least one doctor on that list doesn't do cosmetic surgeries for someone who is 5 8 like me.

[BilateralDamage]

Why would a huge cost weigh down your ambitions?  Sorry I don't really follow your logic.

Also are you talking about Dr. B? He said his height limit is case-by-case scenario (not really strict), so I'm sure if you emailed him he'd let you know that you were eligible.

[programdude]

Yea I saw B said that rarely he would take people over 5 4 which I am wayy beyond.

My ambitions are to get a house in the reasonably near future. I have a bit over 150k, zero debt, a car, and steady income. But if I take a few months off(no a big deal) AND drop 100k having only 50k leaves me miles from buying a house in my area, and not in the standings I'd like to be at 23. I am sure having complication free 2-3 inches would feel great, but I don't know if its worth stalling that goal by such a significant chunk, especially with property values rising.

[BilateralDamage]

I don't know your life, but is having a house that necessary?  You're young, so I don't imagine that you have a family you have to take care of.  Renting a cheap apartment is a much more cost-effective decision to owning a house.

Email Dr. B and let him know your situation.  I guarantee he'll accept you, he accepted me and I'm over his requirement as well.

[KiloKAHN]

Dr Birkholtz does it on a case-by-case basis. If he did accept you as a patient, keep in mind that you'd be his first cosmetic Precice patient on the net. His hospital facilities and conduct on this forum are both great, however.

Also, I might be wrong but I think the Beijing clinic counts the consultation cost as part of the package price if you decide to go with them after the consultation.

[programdude]

I don't know your life, but is having a house that necessary?  You're young, so I don't imagine that you have a family you have to take care of.  Renting a cheap apartment is a much more cost-effective decision to owning a house.

Email Dr. B and let him know your situation.  I guarantee he'll accept you, he accepted me and I'm over his requirement as well.

Its not 100% needed no, but I have to house a certain large piece of equipment for my work, which means that pretty much regardless of where I live it will be fairly expensive. And I have lived my life trying to use the wisest decision, and investing in a good future is always a priority for me. That being said I am getting invisalign(about 5k) and want LL, to sort of have a downtime where I am investing in myself which will certainly pay off, but its a matter of how much.

[BilateralDamage]

Could you keep that large equip in a storage unit and operate it from there?  Pretty much grabbing at straws now, but yeah I see your point.  Make the decision you know that will keep you financially secure.

I just finished up my Invisalign too, came out really nicely 

[programdude]

Its just rough since while I view this as a really logical investment in myself, I don't want to regret it on either end. I have zero concerns about the pain and the down time but...
Dont want to get internal femurs done cheap with a crude doctor and regret it when they mess me up.
Dont want to get LON and regret it if I have bad scars and knee pain.
Dont want to drop 100k and regret that I've distanced myself drastically from my goals.

[KiloKAHN]

Do you have time to remain in external fixators?

[programdude]

What time frame would that be?

[BilateralDamage]

It comes down to what you value.  Why do you want this surgery and how do you see it bettering your life?  Will you regret not doing this surgery?  Will you regret waiting too long to do the surgery?

For me, I know this personal investment is worth it no matter the cost.  Increasing my height will feed into my self-confidence, and ultimately my business and personal relationships, so I see this as a career, relationship, and personality investment.  I'm investing in this young, so I won't have to worry about it in the future and struggle longer than I already have.

I also see other expenses like a house, saving for retirement, college tuition for my future kids, etc. as less important investments (at this moment).  I can invest in those later, and I have plenty more years to make money and do that.

Do you have time to remain in external fixators?

This is a real good question, might be your solution.

[KiloKAHN]

What time frame would that be?

Usually 1.5 - 2 months per cm for adults.

[programdude]

How would that help my situation? And yes I could probably give that kind of time up. But don't external fixators come with issues?

[BilateralDamage]

1. Much less expensive
2. No persistent knee pain
3. A good doctor will help you avoid complications
4. RGKEY is a great example of external lengthening gone well.  While you shouldn't lengthen more than 5-6 cm on your tibia, he still came out complication free.

If your main concern is money which is keeping you from doing internal femurs, this is probably your best bet for your tibiae.

[KiloKAHN]

You could also look into LATP for a reduced fixation time. It costs about the same as LON/LATN but there's no risk of knee pain. Downside is there aren't as many studies on bilateral plate fixation so it's not as clear as to how plate fixation will affect healing in adults.

[PrettyTall]

How would that help my situation? And yes I could probably give that kind of time up. But don't external fixators come with issues?

external is more secure ( for tibias) more cheap but you have limited motion , why not try Dr,Salameh

[programdude]

I was under the impression that externals invariably resulted in chronic knee pain.

[BilateralDamage]

I was under the impression that externals invariably resulted in chronic knee pain.

No, that's when nails are inserted via the knees into the tibia.  For methods like internal tibia, LON, LATN.  Do some more reading on the forums and talk to some doctors, you'll learn a lot more than you already know 

[programdude]

Doesn't pure externals lead to muscles being permanently destroyed because you cant weight bear though.

[Taller]

Doesn't pure externals lead to muscles being permanently destroyed because you cant weight bear though.

No offense intended, but I feel that you should consider doing a bit more research before asking all of these questions about different methods of LL and their impacts on the body. They've already been addressed, or at least discussed, on the forum numerous times before. Your questions about finance make for great discussion and learning, though. My advice is to do LL while younger. I think I'd personally enjoy being my dream height much more than I'd enjoy a house, but it's a decision only you an make for yourself.

[programdude]

Doing the LL while young is absolutely part of the urgency. Otherwise I'd just buy a place then wait a few years and do the LL.

I have read a lot on the matter, but it gets confusing as there are so many different methods with different people saying different things about each in some cases.

[Wannabegiant]

Doesn't pure externals lead to muscles being permanently destroyed because you cant weight bear though.

No they dont. The externals are able to bear the body weight on their own.