It made me wonder... what age do you consider, then, as ideal for a fat graft?
IDEALLY, 40 PLUS BUT I DO MANY IN THEIR 30S. RARELY IN THEIR 20S.
Is it one of those procedures that should be thought of when the loss of fat has become really obvious and/or that the patient is, say, forty years old or more?... or is it something that you think people could benefit from having even before it becomes an obvious problem (the fat loss, I mean)?
NOT NECESSARILY. I SAY LET THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME. THAT IS, THE GOOD THING IS THAT I PUT LESS FAT INTO A YOUNGER PERSON BECAUSE THEY NEED LESS SO THERE IS A NATURAL SAFETY FACTOR BUILT IN THERE. PLUS, I TEND TO PUT FAT IN AREAS THAT YOU WON'T ACCUMULATE IT OVER TIME, E.G., OUTER JOWL AND LOWER CENTRAL CHEEK. MOST PEOPLE SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW IF THEY NEED IT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE IF THEY NEED IT. I CAN. THAT IS WHY I HELP PEOPLE SEE IF THEY ARE A CANDIDATE OR NOT BASED ON MY EYE.
In other words, does the fat graft in some ways work in preventing ageing? (the way botox use is not just a quick fix but can work as a preventive measure / good method to significantly slow ageing).
IT DOES NOT PREVENT AGING LIKE BOTOX BUT IT REVERSES IT ALMOST PERMANENTLY MINUS ONGOING AGING. IN OTHER WORDS, I RESET THE CLOCK BACK LIKE 10 YEARS OR 20 YEARS DEPENDING ON YOUR AGE AND THEN YOU START AGING AGAIN FROM THERE.
Would your advice change if the patient was someone prone to weight changes? regardless of the patient's specific age?
Or would you advice against it when the patient is specifically prone to weight changes and in his/her twenty-thirties?
IF THEY ARE PRONE TO WEIGHT CHANGES LIKE ON THE ORDER OF 30 POUNDS OR MORE, THEN THEY ARE NOT A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR FAT GRAFTING AT ANY AGE UNTIL A LONG TIME LIKE 2 YEARS THAT THEY HAVE NOT GAINED THE WEIGHT BACK OR LONGER OR THEY HAD A SUCCESSFUL LAP BAND PLUS OR MINUS HORMONAL ASSISTANCE. I SIMPLY DON'T TRUST SOMEONE NOT TO GAIN THE WEIGHT BACK. IF THEY ARE HEAVIER BUT NOT REALLY HEAVY, I LIKE TO DO IT WHEN THEY ARE TOWARD THE HEAVIER SIDE SO THAT I RATHER THEM PARTIALLY LOSE MY RESULT AS THEY LOSE WEIGHT AND PUT SOME RESTYLANE IN TO STENT THE AREAS A BIT DURING LEAN TIMES THEN HAVE THEM LOOK FAT IF THEY THIN THEMSELVES DOWN TO BONE THIN AND THEN ACCIDENTALLY BLOW UP IN WEIGHT.
WATCH THIS VIDEO:
http://www.lamfacialplastics.com/plasti ... eo_id,506/What about people whose weight remains steady?
PERFECT!!!!
Say, my case. You know I plan to eventually have a fat grafting done with you. One day in the future. I honestly don' think (hope not to be delusional and wrong ) it's needed yet. But one day I plan to. I wonder though when would be a good age to start thinking of it.
USUALLY MID TO LATE 30S AND BEYOND.
And I wonder about the weight issue. Does it change anything that my weight is extremely stable?
NO, THAT'S GREAT!
I have weighed the same ever since I was 14 years old, I am almost 36 right now. The exact same weight. I have at most gained 3 pounds or lost temporarily (due to stress or specific problems) the same amount of weight - but I never gained more than three pounds and each time I lost weight for stress reasons, I got the weight back to my normal weight almost immediately. Considering that, and the genetics of my family (quite normal and steady weight of all my relatives throughout decades), from both sides, I'd say it is very unlikely that I would gain significative weight in my face (unless something really serious happened to me, hope not!). In such a case, would you still be reluctant to perform fat grafting by fear of some eventual weight gain?
NO, YOU SOUND LIKE A GREAT CANDIDATE. SEE YOU IN A FEW YEARS! BUT SEE YOU EVERY DAY ON THIS SITE!!!!!
Samuel M. Lam, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Diplomate, American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery
) it's needed yet. But one day I plan to. I wonder though when would be a good age to start thinking of it.
) and whether or not my (apparent) genetics could make me a better or worse candidate at my late thirties or early forties... or when.
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