Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

i have never tops up every few months. you are reading someone else's website not mine. i may need to do a touch up at a year but that is uncommon.

oh thankyou,thats great to know.

you're welcome.

when you say touch up, what exactly do you mean? do you mean the whole thing might go down, or just specific areas that may have gone down and need more fat?

specific areas.

do you mean some bits might stay and some go? eg lumpiness?

yes, this is uncommon but you might need a little extra, but not lumpiness. it is a free graft and of course it depends on blood supply, which can be compromised by aging, smoking, etc. however, my fat holds well, period. my touchup rate is minor so long as you understand you need to put your seat belt on between 2 to 6 months when the dip can occur with swelling down and the blood supply not fully kicked in which occurs between 6 months to 2 years.
hope that helps,
sml

when you say "put your seatbelt on", what does this mean? might it not look so good for a while?

yes. in about 20% of patients, they may have such a noticeable dip that the result may look as if i did very little. however, that is only because the swelling is gone but the result has not started to show up at 6 months. i know that sounds hard to believe but it is the truth and again it only happens in a minority (but larger minority) of my patients. the absolute mistake is to go in there a few months out to refill. the patient can look overstuffed 1 to 2 years out.
best,
sml

Dr. Lam,

Hi,
Can you ellaborate on the dip? How long do you have to hold on to your seat belt. Each person is different in healing but on average how long would you say this dip lasts? If you started to dip at 2 months does it take possibly up to 6 months to start to look better?

I am not to sure I like the dip. Just when you start to like the way you look you go back to looking like you did before the fat graft for say months?

K

Not everyone dips. Typically, if I am more conservative with the treatment like with younger patients, there can be more of a dip because the swelling does not carry forward until the result starts to show at 6 months. this is why i think a lot of docs start to fill quickly at 2 to 3 months and they get into problems down the road. NO ONE likes the dip. It only occurs in about 20 percent or so of my patients but I warn everyone so that I don't get an upset patient. Just be patient. If you can't, don't do the procedure with me. I want to establish realistic expectations. The dip may or may not occur. It typically occurs somewhere between 2 to 6 months. could be shorter could be greater. might still need a touchup. all of which is possible.

ok, so the dip would show at 2 months and may last up to 6 months, at which time the fat and blood supply should start to kick in and then you get the volume. (That is if you are one of the 20%)...

Is this right?

thanks K

by george, you've got it. 6 months it starts to look good and continues onward and upward until about 2 years where it plateaus. it does not necessarily get bigger just more blended. i am putting together photos of these dips so that you can see the evolution better. i am just so busy now. i have my second book on fat grafting due in the publisher's hands by late august and i am only 1/4 through the manuscript so i am working every weekend on it. once that clears, i will be much better off.
best,
sml