Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the hours of operation?
- How do I get to your offices?
- How can I contact the doctors for emergencies?
- Will the doctor's visit, surgery, or in-office procedures be covered by my insurance?
- Are there any penalties for cancellations?
- Will allergy testing and treatment be covered by insurance?
- Do you do plastic surgery?
- Do you treat asthma?
- If my children have sore throats or ear pain, should they see their pediatrician or come see you?
- What time do I need to show up for my surgery?
What are the hours of operation?
- Mondays and Fridays: 8 AM to 5 PM
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
- We are closed on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- Please call us at (888) 827-4368 if you are unsure of our hours.
How do I get to your offices?
For directions to the Bluffton office, click here.
For directions to the Huntington office, click here.
How can I contact the doctors for emergencies?
If you have a life-threatening emergency, you should call 911 for help, or report to the nearest emergency room.
During our regular hours of operation, please call (888) 827-4368. Our office will direct the call appropriately.
After hours and on weekends and holidays, Dr. Lai can be paged through the Bluffton Regional Medical Center paging system by dialing (888) 919-3557. Your call will be answered by a page operator who will then contact the doctor on call. We will attempt to return your call as soon as possible.
Will the doctor's visit, surgery, or in-office procedures be covered by my insurance?
You should check with your insurance to make sure that Dr. Lai is in your network. You are responsible for knowing your deductible and co-pays at the time of your visit or procedure. If you receive any billing or collection information you do not understand, you are welcomed to contact us or the billing office listed in the bill. In general, facial plastic surgery, including revision of scars and keloids, is not covered by insurance. Hearing aids are not usually covered by insurance except in special circumstances.
Are there any penalties for cancellations?
We do not charge patients for cancellations, or if you forget your appointment. However, if you know you will not be able to make an appointment, we request your courtesy in letting us know as soon as possible, so that another patient may take your appointment time.
Will allergy testing and treatment be covered by insurance?
Most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid, will cover all or most of allergy testing and treatment. Again, because insurance carriers vary so much, we encourage you to check with your insurance company for details.
Do you do plastic surgery?
Dr. Lai is Board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (www.aboto.org). As part of certification, candidates must have the required knowledge and experience in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Lai is also fellowship trained in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery and has extensive experience in facial plastic surgery. Please click here for more details of facial plastic procedures. Neither doctor performs body plastic surgery, such as body liposuction or breast surgery.
Do you treat asthma?
Because the upper and lower airways are connected, many people who have sinus problems and allergies also have asthma, or restrictive airway disease. There is evidence in the allergy literature that proper treatment of allergies decreases the degree of severity in asthmatic patients. With severe asthma, patients are likely to require treatment of both allergic rhinitis (sinus and nasal allergies) and asthma. These treatments may include inhalers and oral medication. We recommend that you see your primary care doctor with any questions about asthma treatment. Occasionally you may also be referred to a pulmonary (lung) specialist who may do additional testing and treatment.
If my children have sore throats or ear pain, should they see their pediatrician or come see you?
In most cases, we would recommend that they see their pediatrician or family doctor first. If the child is an established patient of our office, or if they have problems after surgical procedures, then you may call our office with your questions and they will be directed appropriately. If your family doctor cannot see you or some reason, you can contact our office and we are usually able to fit you in for a same day visit.
What time do I need to show up for my surgery?
For patients having surgery at Bluffton Regional Medical Center, please call our office (888-827-4368) the day before surgery, and we will let you know the time you need to go to the hospital. The surgical procedures are done in the order of the patients' ages, so that youngest patients will be finished first. For patients having surgery at Parkview Huntington Hospital, the hospital will contact you the day before surgery to let you know when to come to the hospital. If you do not hear from the hospital by noon the day before your surgery (or by noon on Friday if you are having surgery Monday), please call the hospital (800-533-2252) or our office so that we may check on the time for you.