LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Hi Dr. Lam. I'm two weeks post op from a fat graft under my eyes. One eye is coming out smooth and is healing well, but the other has developed two fat lumps which have caused a very odd look. If these fat lumps don't shrink in a few weeks and the area does not smooth out, is a small dose of steroids more or less predictable than excising the lumps? Does 5FU help fat lumps?

If one were coming from out of town to have you correct the problem, how long would i need to be in the Dallas area for?

Thanks,
Steven

hi,
sorry to hear that. hopefully over the next few months the fat gets resabsorbed. i hate to say if someone is getting fat lumps maybe he is inexperienced enough that the fat will not survive. your best bet would be to wait to see if things resorb or at least speak with your surgeon about it. as far as having steroids that only works if the fat is fibrotic and that only develops over time. same for 5fu. fibrotic means firm. if they don't go away, they would have to be cut out. something i could do for you or another qualified surgeon.
best,
sml

Hi Dr. Lam, thanks for the reply. Even at two weeks post op, its very clear that under my right eye, the fat has hardened in two spots that is clearly fibrotic.. I can touch the little "balls" of fat and they feel hard and poke through the skin looking odd.

If I went to you, it seems from researching your comments on the internet, that you prefer 5FU over Kenelog Injection to try to soften the hardness? Do you find it more predictable?

yes, i do. typically the people that have come to me for 5FU come much later like months and months later when there is fibrosis. if it is hard at 2 weeks it is almost impossible that it is scar tissue since it has not built up yet. most of my patients have hard (but not bumpy) faces at 2 weeks. i honestly would ask your surgeon what he thinks. however, for me if i were in your situation i would not try to manage it this early as it may go away, and i have no idea what i am treating at 2 weeks since i am seeing only swelling and hardness.