I have a neurostimulator for pain. So knowing the overall cost of the surgery how can this procedure be cost effective when compared to laser surgery? My implant surgery was around $60,000 I will have to have a lead adjustment do to a loss in effect from the lead moving. Eventually 5-15 yrs I will need a new implant if nothing else fails since it has a rechargeable battery. These risks and annoyances are acceptable since the other option would be amputation which I could still have phantom pain.

So with a procedure that has an obviously cheaper and permanent alternative is available then seriously why? I know that the laser surgery is somewhat painful and that you will not be able to speak for a few days but implanting a foreign object with 2 leads that are very far from each other sounds silly to me.

I hope this guy got the surgery for free and wasn't duped into doing it by the dr either that or for some reason was not a candidate for laser surgery.  I just got my a-cpap and I totally understand they suck and I hate it but I would never do this when there is a more permanent solution covered by my insurance.