LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Dr. Lam:
I have reviewed your website at length and believe you have a very viable solution and a great approach to facial plastic surgery. I am very interested in the fat grafting for the face.

My main concerns are the following: 1) I have read that fat grafting can sometimes take more than one sitting or surgery since it is uncertain how much of the fat will be absorbed; some websites claim there could be 3 procedures to get the final wanted effect. 2) I have dark circles around my eyes - no veins, just some hollowness but certainly has become darker over the years (I am in my early 40s) and more noticeable when I am standing under light. Will the fat grafting help the hollowness and dark circles?

Thanks for your reply.

Hi lucky13,
rather oxymoronic moniker, btw. okay, in answer to your question, fat grafting in general may take more than one session to attain a great result. i have found in the majority of my patients that I really only need one treatment to attain a great result. However, in less than 10% of my patients, I see that I need a second treatment to get them to the level that I would like. That being said, they still look fantastic after one treatment.

The next question then is why do I need only one session in general to get my results and other people need several. That question is partially answered regarding how my technique is different as far as longevity. Flip down the blog and find my VERY detailed answer in regard to that one. As part of that answer, I think most people sell fat to correct lips and lines, which I think really fails unless you do multiple, multiple sessions. Therefore, I do not sell fat for these areas of the face. I use fat as a volumizer and contour treatment, which really is the most important thing it can do.

As far as under your eyes are concerned, I can truly treat the hollowness well but if the "dark circles" are due to allergies, thin skin with muscle showing through, veins (not in your case), etc., then no. However, most likely at least 80% of the dark circles are coming from lack of fat in that area so I think I should get you a very good result.

If you are in your 40s in particular, most people in this age group really need no "lifting" procedures. Way too much of that going on for someone way too young. Fat restoration truly is the answer for people of almost any age from even 30s (in advanced aging) through one's 80s (obviously in 50s plus you may need a facelift of some kind to get a great result).

hope that helps.
best,
sml

Hi lucky13,
rather oxymoronic moniker, btw. okay, in answer to your question, fat grafting in general may take more than one session to attain a great result. i have found in the majority of my patients that I really only need one treatment to attain a great result. However, in less than 10% of my patients, I see that I need a second treatment to get them to the level that I would like. That being said, they still look fantastic after one treatment.

The next question then is why do I need only one session in general to get my results and other people need several. That question is partially answered regarding how my technique is different as far as longevity. Flip down the blog and find my VERY detailed answer in regard to that one. As part of that answer, I think most people sell fat to correct lips and lines, which I think really fails unless you do multiple, multiple sessions. Therefore, I do not sell fat for these areas of the face. I use fat as a volumizer and contour treatment, which really is the most important thing it can do.

As far as under your eyes are concerned, I can truly treat the hollowness well but if the "dark circles" are due to allergies, thin skin with muscle showing through, veins (not in your case), etc., then no. However, most likely at least 80% of the dark circles are coming from lack of fat in that area so I think I should get you a very good result.

If you are in your 40s in particular, most people in this age group really need no "lifting" procedures. Way too much of that going on for someone way too young. Fat restoration truly is the answer for people of almost any age from even 30s (in advanced aging) through one's 80s (obviously in 50s plus you may need a facelift of some kind to get a great result).

hope that helps.
best,
sml