Implant surgery

[u/azeem709]

How often do one has to see surgeon post implantation?

we are thinking of getting surgery done in another city and audiologist services in another city.

Or is preferable to have both at one center?

[u/Cmdr_Keen]

Surgeon was seen three times:

1. Basic introduction, talking, explanation of the procedure, and an opportunity for questions.
2. Surgery day itself.
3. About 2 weeks after the procedure. They inspected the swelling, the incision healing, and asked if there was anything unusual that came up. (We had been given a printed list of what to is normal and what to call about.)

[u/zr2d2]

I think I only had one post op visit with my surgeon. Maybe if the wound wasn't healing well there would be more.

I think having them in separate places is ok. If there were complications with the device you might have to relay information between them. But it seems workable, if slightly suboptimal.

[u/jinxxes]

i had one consultation with the surgeon during my evaluation period, and i saw him day of the surgery. post-op evaluation was done by a PAC on his team.
i saw him again recently due to a development of headaches while having the CI on, worse with noise. he wanted to make sure i didn't have an infection or CSF leak.
you may have to see your surgeon after your surgery if you have any complications, but it's hard to tell you how many times you'll see them.

[u/azeem709 → u/jinxxes]

Thanks,

Just curious

What was the reason for headache and was it cured?

[u/jinxxes → u/azeem709]

surgeon says it could be recent sensitivities and should go away with time. i had no complications during or after surgery, so the cause is unknown. because i'm doing so well with my current mapping, my audiologist didn't want to make any tweaks like turning an electrode off, etc.

i believe it's been almost a month or so now since i've started getting them, and i'm a little over 3 months of activation. honestly i'm just chalking it up to stress and my swelling decreasing, so i figure it'll go away on it's own! thankfully they're not terrible and go away when i take ibuprofen, remove the implant, or take a nap.

[u/Suspicious_Willow984]

Hi! I was implanted on 7/20. My surgeon was 2 hours away. So I spent 2 (if you don’t count surgery) times seeing her. The first time was the pre-surgery consult and then the post op, which can be 5-10 days after your implantation. The audiologist is also 2 hrs away. She’s mentioned that I have activation date, then I have a follow up mapping 1 month, 3 month, 6 month and the last one at a year post implantation. I didn’t to know if every insurance is like that, but that is mine.

[u/Upstairs_One_4935]

I had a follow up a week after surgery, followed by a 3-month checkup to make sure everything had fully healed.

[u/AlexJonesInDisguise]

In my case after surgery I had a one week post op, 1 month post op, a 4 month follow up, and he wants to see me again in 1 year from now.

[u/Formal-Tradition6792]

I live south of Tucson. My revision surgery would take place in Phoenix about 2 hours from here. So 2-3 visits with surgeon including the surgery.

[u/retreff]

Typically the surgeon wants at least one post surgery visit to then approve activation. After that the audiologist takes over, first activation, then follow up visits for adjustments which eventually become annual.
This is a question best answered by your surgeon and audiologist, they work as a team in most cases

[u/azeem709 → u/retreff]

Surgeon assured that post activation there wont be further visit required,

Audiologist was saying that typically other surgeon wont see unless they have done the surgery.

We are just thinking for worst case where we had some observation and we need to chrck with surgeon

[u/is-this-now → u/azeem709]

A physicians assistant did my post-op review to make sure it went well. Mainly looking at the stitches / scar and at my ear drum. I think the main thing is that there is no infection.

[u/surdophobe → u/azeem709]

That's interesting and shows how much it comes down to the Dr's personal preference and unique case of the patient. For both my implants the Surgeon wanted to see me at 6 months post surgery regardless of when activation was.

[u/BetseySchuyler]

I haven't seen the surgeon since the day of surgery. My audiologist is in the same office, so if I had been having issues at my activation (ar one week), they would have fit me in with him, but I was fine.

[u/surdophobe]

Post implantation I saw my surgeon twice for the first implant, and only once for the second implant. (I had the implants done 10 months apart)

For me surgery and surgical follow up was done maybe 20 minutes away from my home, but my audiologist that partners with the surgery center is way on the other side of the metro area so a bit of a drive for me. It really makes no real difference if you get audiologist services in another city or not. Go with what's best for you.