LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Hi Dr Lam,

I have been face exercising for the past 4 years. It helps build bulk over my gaunt face but I still would like to do fats transfer. My question is: Is it wise to continue face exercising after the procedure, will I loose transfered fats through the exercise? Also, once I hit menopause, will I loose even more facial fats? If that is the case should I wait till menopause or it makes not difference to do it now at age 42? Thanks so much for time and attention.

honestly, to me face exercises make no sense. all they do is create wrinkles. they don't tone your skin or at least in my opinion give you any substantive volume retention. further, if you continue to do it it won't affect the fat transfer one way or another. menopause should not affect fat transfer one way or another.
s.

Hi Dr Lam,
Thanks for your prompt reply. Actually my face is still holding on more or less ok with face exercise but my worry is when I hit menopause and might loose facial fats big time and no amount of exercise will help. If I do fats tranfer when younger, do the fats stay (retention) better than when I am older?

Regards, heekycheeks
PS the folks in Texas are so lucky to have you

you should be able to retain the fat regardless of menopause status in my opinion. you may want to seek the assistance of an anti-aging doctor to help you during your transition into menopause. thanks for the kind remarks.
s.

Hi Dr Lam,

Thanks for your attention and reply. Sorry I have been very very busy. I have contacted a few doctors in my country and they all give me different answers to how much of the transferred fats will be retained. Some say 30%, while the highest is 60%. Some are advising me against it saying it will cause lumps and bumps. It seems to me that they are not very sure of themselves.

What exactly is a good fats retention percentage? Before I go ahead with the procedure, what are some necessary and relevant questions that I should ask the doctors before I can even decide on which doctor. I am 42.

Thanks again and I really appreciate your kind and generous effort in setting up this really helpful website for everyone including people like me who are not your patients.

good fat should hold between 75 to 85%. the key things you want to know before you pick a surgeon for fat transfer are as follows:
1. how long have they been doing it? if less than 2 to 3 years then they cannot speak of long-term results.
2. what is their retention rate? how comfortable are they with the procedure in terms of complications?
3. the key is how do you like their results? this is perhaps the key here. beyond safety and longevity, the results have to look balanced, natural, aesthetic, and rejuvenative. i typically see too much in the wrong part of the cheek and not enough in transition zones so the person only looks mildly better or sometimes worse.
best,
s.

Hi Dr Lam,

Hope you are fine. I am from India (age 26 yrs) and have recently done fat grafting (31 Aug 2012) by transferring fat from my thigh area to the left cheek which was much lesser than the right cheek. In just 40 days left cheek has reduced considerably than the right cheek and now looks little lesser than right cheek. what should i so that it doesn't reduce more. Can both of my cheeks ever look equal.

Kind Regards,
Smriti

Dear Dr Lam,

Thank you for your valuable time, advice and answers to my questions. Looks like I am groping in the dark as the doctors I have contacted only have two years or less experience. Yes, I am feeling kind of sad and hopeless. At where I stand finacially, there is certainly no way to see you...sigh.
Have to accept the way I look. I will always accept that I look better today that tomorrow. by the way, I am from Singapore.

Best regards,
Mel

@smriti, honestly, the photos you sent me look really full for my taste and you are simply extremely young to be putting that much fat in your face. i would advise you not to chase asymmetry and you would NOT look any better fuller. it will be a mistake that you will pay for now and worse down the road.

@mel, i am sure you will find a good doctor to help you down the road.