Hey All...
I am seriously considering VFS during the coming year... For anyone who chose between Haben and Yeson, I would love to hear the factors that went into your decision!.... Thanks in advance!!!!
Ashley :)
I wasn't interested in traveling out of the country as I don't have a passport and language could be an issue. I found Dr Haben's web site to be far more informative and the final issue was the fact he offered CTA and VFS for the maximum amount of change. My voice was sufficiently low that I wanted a doctor to have that in the tool box should it be needed. VFS was enough in my case so either doctor could have done the job.
Hi Dena!
Thank you so much for the reply... There is definitely an attraction to staying in the country to me... Especially if there are complications but also, I want to get the best results... Just starting to do my homework on this stuff and trying to determine the differences in the surgical approaches...
It looks like Dr Kim's approach addresses things in more ways than Haben's "single" procedure and is less invasive than Haben's CTA which leaves a 2-3" scar... If I am wrong... Someone please let me know!...I may schedule soon for an in office consult with Haben and an online consult with Yeson...
I welcome opinions on either place from anyone who's been through VFS!!!
Onward we go!
Ashley :)
I can only speak for myself, but if I had to do this all over again I would have chosen Yeson (or just left well enough alone.) Dr. Haben left me with permanent vocal scarring and a voice that is a million times worse than what I started with. I believe that Dr. Kim has better results in general because 1)using a micro scalpel may make patients less prone to scarring and 2)permantant sutures ensure that the vocal folds are "tight" which makes gaps in the connection less likely. Just my opinion- good luck.
Thank you so much for your input kwala and I am so sorry your results were so disappointing!!!!... I have decided that if I move ahead with this, I will be going to Dr Kim at Yeson
Ashley :)
I'm not sure how'd you choose - you'll find equal opinions for both on the forums.
I went with Yeson as I felt more comfortable with his procedure and didn't want anything done but the glottoplasty side of things. No adverse effects or anything here.
I think it is a good choice. Dr Kim has several advantages, but of course there are mainly 3 downsides: longer travel, no option to inrease the pitch even further with CTA (a method that I see very critical anyways, but if your voice is extremely low it may make sense to combine it), longer planned speech rest timeframe. I think none of this should matter to 99% of the patients, considering that the result will be with you for many decades.
Since you already decided, I will not make a full list of the pros and cons ;)
Hi Anjac and thank you for the reply!... I would still be interested in your view on additional pros and cons if you wouldn't mind sharing.... My speaking voice these days averages comfortably around 175 hz without trying to do much... So it's not overly low.
Take Care!!!
Ashley :)
Well, I think the pros of Yeson are:
microscalpels - no tissue is removed - minimal scarring
permanent threads - keeping the shape of the new commissure during the first 8 weeks of healing - can be fastened tighter than dissolving threads
placement of sutures - deep enough to form a funnel instead of a gate.
glottoplasty, no CTA - CTA removes vocal range
no scar visible
high patient happiness according to his survery
cons are:
4 weeks of voice rest plus 4 weeks of minimal voice use
long recovery time
expensive
long distance
no CTA in addition to glottoplasty - less increase in pitch possible
Hi Anjac!!! Thank you so much! I very much appreciate the additional thoughts!.... I am ring across better "customer satisfaction" with Dr Kim!....
Onward we go!!!!
Ashley :)