Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

Dr Lam, if fat grafting lasts up to 10 years, why don't more people have it in their cheeks, for example, instead of cheek implants or radiesse? If fat grafting lasts for about 10 yrs in the face, why does it dissipate completely in the lips within 6 months? Fat grafting is something I'd like to consider for my cheeks to make the cheek bones look higher, can this be achieved by fat grafting, just to add a gentle curve to the cheek?

it is 100% technique. i am one of the few surgeons who get their fat to stick and to stick well. most docs simply can't get it to work. yes, fat can be used for the cheek. however, it is important that the face is effectively blended so that the cheeks don't just jut out like monsters. my goal is ARTISTRY. you need to think of fat transfer not just like creating convexity and covering bone but as airbrush work to balance and blend areas of the face. that last comment is impossible to understand until you sit in front of me for 10 to 20 minutes. lips just are poor for fat, period. highly mobile and different tissue. just like why is radiesse better for the cheeks than under the eyes and the lips? because it is.
best,
sml

Thank you Dr Lam.

Is the procedure done under local anaesthetic?

Do you harvest fat from my body using a lipo cannula?

How is the swelling/bloating/down time?

I saw photos of Heather Locklear after fat grafting and she looked like a bloated monster. I don't want to scare any small children, what is the average recovery time?

1. it is done with light to deeper sedation. being awake is uncomfortable.
2. watch my videos and other forum posts regarding recovery. i write this every day. in general, you will look too bloated for 7 to 10 days. even then after that it might not be perfect. watch my video "other people's perception of you" in my "postop video companion" series in my media center to understand how your children may see you.
3. i harvest with a tiny cannula.