LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Hi Dr. Lam,

I have had lip implants, fat grafts and Aquamid injections and all of these procedures were done over the course of ten years. My lips have never felt right after the Aquamid injections. I know that the Aquamid has become part of my lip tissue. I had the Gortex implants removed because they were causing a lot of pain. I have been suffering off and on (more on) with chronic inflammation and internal lip scarring for the past six years. I received about 20 Kenalog injections over the past four years and ten injections of 5-fu both to try and break up scarring and to help with my chronic inflammation. My poor lips have been through so much and the chronic off and on inflammation is sometimes unbearable!! My lips will feel fine for about two weeks and then the inflammation starts all over again.

I sent you a few e-mails via your website. I would like to know if you can surgically remove some of the bulk from my top lip and if so, would this help with the burning sensation? I really, really need your help.

Thanks in advance!

i am so sorry to hear what you are going through. it may be caused by the aquamid. although i can reduce the bulk and maybe burden of the product i don't know if i can help the burning sensation.
s.

Woodstock81 wrote:Hi Dr. Lam,

I have had lip implants, fat grafts and Aquamid injections and all of these procedures were done over the course of ten years. My lips have never felt right after the Aquamid injections. I know that the Aquamid has become part of my lip tissue. I had the Gortex implants removed because they were causing a lot of pain. I have been suffering off and on (more on) with chronic inflammation and internal lip scarring for the past six years. I received about 20 Kenalog injections over the past four years and ten injections of 5-fu both to try and break up scarring and to help with my chronic inflammation. My poor lips have been through so much and the chronic off and on inflammation is sometimes unbearable!! My lips will feel fine for about two weeks and then the inflammation starts all over again.

I sent you a few e-mails via your website. I would like to know if you can surgically remove some of the bulk from my top lip and if so, would this help with the burning sensation? I really, really need your help.

Thanks in advance!

Thanks for your reply Dr. Lam.

my pleasure. wish i could do more.
s.

Hi Dr Lam!

After seeing your lip work, I am so very impressed and I know that you can help rid some of my old filler and a lot of scarring as well. I know that you said you could not help the 'burning sensation" that I am experiencing which is most likely due to the Aquamid that was injected seven years ago, but I was wondering if the lip reduction causes any nerve damage and has this ever happened to any of your patients? Also, I really would just be happy to get my top lip reduced so that I can at least see my teeth when I smile.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Woodstock81

there is always risk of prolonged numbness but i have not had anything permanent. that being said, it is always a risk with any lip procedure. i think you have to weight benefit to risk and if your lip looks off this can truly be worth it for you.
best,
s.

Thanks for your prompt response. I believe your office is checking to see if I sent pictures about three months ago. The fact that my lip scarring is bulky on the underside of mostly my upper lip has made the mechanics of my upper lip to be rather limited. I am hoping with your expertise knowledge and work, I can have a bit of tooth show and possibly a little better function of my top lip. Have you experienced patients with similar issues?

Thanks again!

hi,
i read your email that you sent to me and i will reply here if that is ok.
1. because you have nerve damage already, there is always a chance that it could worsen anytime i cut through a lip that has nerve damage. i am always careful to avoid major nerves but i cannot make any promises if you already have problems there. that is something you need to know. in other words, you could have more numbness afterward. you have to weigh that risk to decide whether to proceed.
2. if your lip is already tight feeling, it could get tighter. that is a common feeling for about 2 months after a lip reduction but it softens. if your lip is already tight, i have to be careful with that. if it is scar tissue, it might need 5FU injections to calm down the scar tissue either before the surgery, after the surgery, or both times. unfortunately, i do not know a lot of doctors who do that.
3. to show more teeth, yes that is possible but not guaranteed. the reason for that is that i trim down the lip until it looks natural. that is all i care about. when i try to shoot for teeth as my end goal, then i may over reduce the lip. conversely, if you already have a gummy smile then when i reduce a large lip i have to be careful not to take it so far down that you have a worsening of that.
i am very experienced with lip reductions but before you decide to see me because of your unique problems you have to be comfortable to assume the risks that i have outlined above before deciding to see me. clearly, when i see you in person i can make a better evaluation but it is important that you weigh pros and cons before making a decision to fly down here and have the procedure performed.
best,
s.

dr. lam wrote:hi,
i read your email that you sent to me and i will reply here if that is ok.
1. because you have nerve damage already, there is always a chance that it could worsen anytime i cut through a lip that has nerve damage. i am always careful to avoid major nerves but i cannot make any promises if you already have problems there. that is something you need to know. in other words, you could have more numbness afterward. you have to weigh that risk to decide whether to proceed.
2. if your lip is already tight feeling, it could get tighter. that is a common feeling for about 2 months after a lip reduction but it softens. if your lip is already tight, i have to be careful with that. if it is scar tissue, it might need 5FU injections to calm down the scar tissue either before the surgery, after the surgery, or both times. unfortunately, i do not know a lot of doctors who do that.
3. to show more teeth, yes that is possible but not guaranteed. the reason for that is that i trim down the lip until it looks natural. that is all i care about. when i try to shoot for teeth as my end goal, then i may over reduce the lip. conversely, if you already have a gummy smile then when i reduce a large lip i have to be careful not to take it so far down that you have a worsening of that.
i am very experienced with lip reductions but before you decide to see me because of your unique problems you have to be comfortable to assume the risks that i have outlined above before deciding to see me. clearly, when i see you in person i can make a better evaluation but it is important that you weigh pros and cons before making a decision to fly down here and have the procedure performed.
best,
s.

Thanks for your detailed information. I have had many rounds of 5-fu injections over the past 1.5 years and I am still stuck with a lot of bulk and scarring. I have zero tooth show right now. I miss my nice smile. I would be happy if you could just get rid of the bulk at this point. I can actually use my lower teeth and bite the upper lip's bulk---there is so much. Being that I have already went the Kenalog coupled with 5-fu, I would really like for you to help me if you can. Should I send you some pics? '

I spoke with one of your office staff and she said she would get back to me regarding if I had already sent you pictures or not. I have not heard back as of yet.

Again, should I post pictures??

send me the photos, either close up on here or privately to drlam@lamfacialplastics.com. that will help.