Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

Dear Dr. Lam,

You are board certified in face and neck surgery with an international clientele. I would like to know if fat grafting can be done to the neck where the thin layer of fat behind the skin has been lost due to IPL damage.

If it is possible to graft fat to the neck, would the grafting procedure be performed in conjunction with a neck lift?

If fat grafting is not a possibility, what would you recommend for loose skin in the neck area where the neck already appears extremely thin?

I could not find anything in your videos on this particular topic. Thank you, Dr. Lam, for making it possible to pose questions here for everyone's understanding and benefit.

Fat transfer in the neck is something that I do probably once every few weeks but not with vigor. It is hard to put enough fat in the neck to get a result that is significant. I would say don't bank on it. If it is part of a face fat transfer and you need it there, I will put some fat into the neck as needed. I simply cannot have you bank on it being the end all and be all. I see some subtle, nice changes but nothing revolutionary as far as volume. I can do a neck lift and a fat transfer into the neck so long as I do not undermine the areas I do fat. typically that would be midline fat placement as needed and lateral neck lift. that specific combination has to be evaluated in person to see whether it is feasible.
best,
sml

Thank you so much for your reply, Dr. Lam.

Your answer does provide me insight into what could possibly be expected. I still find it pretty miraculous that it could be done at all.

I have two more questions, if I may ask.
Does the fat that is transferred into the neck have as good a rate of retention as the fat that you graft to a patient's face? I understand that from a volumetric perspective, the amount put into the neck may be very small and I also know that the neck is an extremely mobile area which might pose some challenges but does that small amount of fat tend to stay?

Also, are there particular things that would make someone a good candidate for both fat transfer into the neck and a lateral neck lift? Or conversely, are there things that would make a person a very poor candidate for such procedures?

Many thanks again, Dr. Lam, for your elucidation and your highly educational forum.

REPLIES IN ALL CAPS BELOW:
I have two more questions, if I may ask.
Does the fat that is transferred into the neck have as good a rate of retention as the fat that you graft to a patient's face? NOT AS GOOD. I understand that from a volumetric perspective, the amount put into the neck may be very small and I also know that the neck is an extremely mobile area which might pose some challenges but does that small amount of fat tend to stay? I SEE SOME OK RETENTION BUT NOT GREAT. THAT IS WHY I DON'T "SELL" IT NOR DO I CHARGE FOR IT IF DONE IN COMBO WITH A FACE.

Also, are there particular things that would make someone a good candidate for both fat transfer into the neck and a lateral neck lift? Or conversely, are there things that would make a person a very poor candidate for such procedures?
A COMBO WOULD BE SOMEONE WHO IS VERY SKELETAL IN THE NECK OR HAD OVER RESECTION OF THE CENTRAL NECK THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM BOTH SIMULTANEOUS FT AND FL. SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A GOOD CANDIDATE IS SOMEONE WHO WOULD NEED LIPO IN THE CENTRAL NECK (BUT THEN WHY ADD FAT TO SOMEONE I AM TRYING TO REMOVE FAT FROM?) AND FL. OBVIOUSLY, PERMUTATIONS I HAVE NOT THOUGHT OF EXIST TOO.
best,
sml

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions so thoroughly, Dr. Lam.

my pleasure! thanks for asking!