Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

Dr. Lam
Hi My name is RIchelle Roberts and Im a 19 year old college student. I have desired rhinoplasty for as long as I knew that I could change my nose. I love my face and I believe my eyes to be my best attribute but feel like the width and flatness of my nose takes away from such features. I recently viewed and African Amercian patient of yours testimonial and was pleased to see that she didnt look like Michael Jacson It also surpised me how natural her nose looked. Although her original nose probaly did not resemble mine at all Im sure that it had some of the ethinic diffuclties that I have. I want ,above all, to keep the ethnicity in my nose prevelant but add definition and structure to my face.Im sure that those who know me will be aware that I have had surgery but I would like the outcome of my nose to look so nautral that they find it hard to remember what my "old nose"looked like.If you found my nose to be a operatable nose I would be more than willing to travel down to you being that I am only from Georgia. Here is a picture of my face for your observation. Thank you and have a blessed day[img

Hi,
thanks for your interest in rhinoplasty. i do a good # of aa rhinoplasties, and ethnic preservation is the key. however, the other goal is to provide softening of overly ethnic features. to make the tip look smaller you would require 3 maneuvers:
1. a slight raising to the bridge as i did for the aa patient you saw in the testimonial. only raising the bridge by a couple of mm preserves the ethnicity but also balances the tip size since a finer, higher bridge will make the tip look smaller.
2. defatting the upper part of the nose tip can make the lower part look more refined.
3. a cartilage tip graft for structure and to give some definition to your tip would add some shape without making it too pointy.
would love to meet you some day. if you want to schedule an in-person consultation or phone consultation, email marcy@lamfacialplastics.com.
best,
sml

Dr. Lam
Thank you for such spedy reply.I had planned to hav my surgery first week in March bu due to finacial diffucuties and he implu fac that I hadnt done all the research I felt like I should have decided to go throught with the procedure in Mid July. Im trying to arrange a consultaion in June with your offices but I still have to clear it with work. I hav confidence that you can handel my procedure with skill and compassion. I was wondering if here was som sort of software tha showed the predicted out com of surgery and any procedurs I should take lik medicines no to take or things to eat. Again thnk you

1. yes ,there is software that i can use but i only do that as an in-person consultation and do not send those images over the net to you. sorry.
2. i do book ahead so please plan your consultation in advance.
3. don't worry about the medicines just yet. we'll discuss that as we get closer to a real date. if you want to see more specifically about before and after care, you can go to the far right column in general website and look at patient forms.
best,
sml

A couple more questions...
Ok althought it may not be visable I have suffered form acne and enlarged pores for some time now. As an Afican american I was told that chemical peels were not for me. I must tell you that when I get a cut the scars stay forever a bruise can later become a black spot on my skin. While in the 10th grade I was hospitalized for some reasons unbeknow to doctors and myself and when I was released I later aquired a wierd rash on my stomach that later became raised. the feel wierd and a couple of months ago I found a spot on the side of my butt. At fist I thought it was from the medicine but now im wonder. A doctor suggested I treat it with topical steroids but I never got the perscription. With all that said I was wondering if a TCA peel was for me. I have a face regime that has cleared my acne and kept breakouts away, but now I cant seem to totally clear my pores and close them. Ive always like the way I looked except for those minor disgressions and I have decided not to wait but go and ahead and improve those parts of me that Im unsatisfied with and start living my life to its fulliest. I can send you a pic to see my skin bare so that you may make a decision.
Again thank you so much for you honesty its really refreshing especially in such a profession.

unfortunately, the answer is a resounding no. it is unsafe and dangerous. do not pursue it. it will hurt you.
best,
sml