LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

I'm male, early 50s, good shape and muscle tone (very healthy diet and moderate daily exercise) but with a gaunt look to my face. There is a little fat around my abdomen, and not much elsewhere. I consulted with three local surgeons. The first suggested a face lift with subsequent fat transfer if needed, and advised against lipo since the abdominal fat was so minor. The second recommended a fat transfer, but is concerned there isn't enough fat to harvest and so may need fillers as well. The third is very aggressive at lipo (he says he gets 90% using a micro-canula) and has extensive fat grafting experience. He has cautioned that the recovery will involve significant drainage for the first few days, so much that he recommends plastic sheeting on the car, floors, and the bed. I'd have to avoid sitting for the first few weeks, and wear compression garments for 6-8 weeks. He says recovery tends to be longer in men, who have more fibrous tissue. He does say that my midsection will look much better, because the loose skin will tighten up after the scarring from the lipo. I was eager to look better, but am now wondering if I can put up with such a daunting recovery.

Is this level of trauma and recovery normal for lipo? Should I worry that the lipo is too agressive?

In reading your forum replies, and your other material, I got the idea that your is less traumatic, that people fly in and out right away.

hi,
thanks for the question. here is the problem: i don't do liposuction. i only specialize in harvesting fat for fat transfer so i really cannot answer your question.
s.

Hi Dr. Lam,

Thanks for the reply. My primary goal is to harvest enough fat for the transfer, but because I don't have much fat, this one surgeon is the only one I've consulted who is confident he can harvest enough, because he spends considerable time doing so and claims to get ~90% of the fat in an area. (He also says the lipo will tighten the skin around my middle which will make me look better.)

sounds convincing. i don't really have a solid comment.