Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

Hello Dr. Lam. I am a 25 year old African-American woman, and i have been considering having my lips reduced for quite some time now. You seem to have a lot of experience with this procedure which one would equate to skill, however one doesn't always add up to the other. My concern is whether or not our ideals of beauty would be aligned. I've read where you use the term "less ethnic", and while i do want my lips reduced, I in no way want to appear less ethnic. I still want big/full lips with moderate changes. The smallest difference can make a big difference in appearance. I've also read where you've stated that you have to make the top lip look relatively smaller than the bottom lip and wanted to know is that how you take on each lip reduction? I have a bi-maximal protrusion and my upper lip protrudes further than my bottom. My chin is small and the roundness of my bottom lip makes it appear smaller than it is. I don't mind these traits as they are typical of my ethnicity. I believe based on the way my mouth is shaped that the difference in protrusion is only logical and would be appealing if the shape of my mouth was more desirable. What I do not find aesthetically pleasing about my lips is the lack of definition or shape at the corners. They do not gradually get smaller at the corners, not even a little bit! I also find the extent of protrusion unsightly. I still want ample pout, just not as much as I've been given. I would love to send you some private pictures in order for you to determine if the look that i want is attainable. Please advise of how I can send>I also wanted to know if you have frequently performed this surgery on African Americans and if you have any patients that can be contacted about the procedure. Thanks so much for your time in advance Dr. Lam!

1. yes, i often perform this procedure on aa's and all ethnicities. yes, you can contact a patient. you can call my office regarding that. however, that is why i put videos up on line so you hopefully do not have to, as it equates to tremendous staff time in coordination of that, especially because i do not allow you to call a patient. the patient must call you. i am too worried about my patient's privacy. i will protect you the same way once you become a patient.
2. to me the word "ethnic" almost becomes a semantic issue. if i reduce your lips so very very little, you will have no result to speak of. if you reduce it enough, you will have a great result. yes, you can send me a preliminary photo via PM. let me take a look and point out what you want. if it agrees with my aesthetic and it makes sense, i may accept you as a patient. if our aesthetic goals are not in alignment, then we will mutually part ways.
best,
sml

Dr Lam, thank you for your timely response. I inquired about contacting prior patients and about how frequent you perform this procedure on African-Americans, because they are questions that are important in determining if you are indeed the surgeon for me. As I'm sure you have found in your practice, different groups have different ideas about what is beautiful, and my hope is that with your experience you understand and can assist in creating an art that is outside of your own standard of beauty. You bring about a valid point; if our aesthetics do not align we shall merely part. I in no way want to walk around with lips that I do not find pleasing (already in that boat for free), and I am sure that you in no way want to perform a surgery that you are dissatisfied with. Your site proclaims that your lip correction technique for ethnic lips keep in mind ethnicity, gender, aesthetic principle and the patients desire, here's hoping my desire and your aesthetic are a match made in cosmetic heaven. Thank you again for your time.

Hey Dr. Lam, I attempted to send you pictures a few days ago via the pm icon on your message. I hope I sent them correctly, please advise if you have received. Thanks for your time.

sorry, i sent a response but it was only in my outbox but not in sent messages. check your PM again.