Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

xxx. The fat is processed before being placed in the face then injected in areas of need. The cost is attractive since anesthesia and overnight stays are eliminated. What are your opinions on this procedure? Also, where and how do you harvest the fat that you inject into patient's cheeks and what is the typical costs for extracting and implanting fat into the cheek area? THANKS!

i removed part of your reference because i do not want to credit or disparage another physician. suffice it to say that i do not require overnight stays and i believe that smart lip due to the heat can damage fat cells. but here is the kicker. i see too many "partial fat grafts" of fat just shoved into the cheeks making people look chipmunky and unbalanced. i saw this all last week when i was in vegas lecturing. what i do is to balance a face with fat in a lot of little areas so that you actually look younger and more balanced. remember that it is more important to balance a face and make it look better. that is the artistry. don't get in love with a technique. that is marketing. get in love with the results. i truly believe no one delivers results as balanced as mine because they simply put too much fat in too little an area. i put a little fat in a lot of little areas and the results mimic youth. get in love with an artistic well balanced result. that is more important than "fat grafting" or "smart lipo". as far as cost, just give my office a call 972-312-8188 for that info. hope that helps.
best,
sml

Thanks Dr. Lam. I agree, your pre and post pictures are some of the best I've seen... very natural. I like that you are using real fat and not fillers. I do have a few more questions.

Is the fat transfer a once in a lifetime procedure? Also, how do you extract the fat and where do you extract it from. Finally, is the fat extraction and insertion done on the same day?

Is the fat transfer a once in a lifetime procedure? PRETTY MUCH YES. IF YOU DO NO FILLERS AFTERWARD, YOU MAY NEED ANOTHER FAT TRANSFER IN 10 YEARS. THE BEST WAY THAT I DESCRIBE FAT LOSS AND AGING IS THAT IT IS ONGOING. BECAUSE I USE VERY HEARTY DURABLE FAT FROM THE BELLY AND THIGHS IT WON'T BE LOST WITH AGING BUT YOUR OTHER FAT WILL BE SO AN EASY THING TO DO IS ONCE A YEAR IS TO DO A MINOR FILLER TOUCH UP IF YOU LIKE. BUT THOSE WHO DO NOT (LIKE MY MOM) STILL LOOKS GREAT YEARS LATER (FOR HER SHE IS 4 YEARS OUT AND STILL LOOKS A LOT YOUNGER). HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE. Also, how do you extract the fat and where do you extract it from. TYPICALLY BELLY AND THIGHS. I USE A HAND HARVESTING TECHNIQUE. NO MACHINES SO THE FAT IS NOT DAMAGED. Finally, is the fat extraction and insertion done on the same day? ABSOLUTELY, WITHIN MINUTES OF EACH OTHER SO THE FAT IS FRESH.
thanks for the queries.
best,
sml