LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Dr Lam, I am thinking of having Silikon 1000 injected into my lips as a permanent solution. My lips are average and I only want to increase the top and bottom by a maximum of 20%. I would be flying in to see you from Portland OR, so I'm trying to get as much info as possible beforehand.

1. My goal in lip size is quite conservative (a 20% increase), do you think it's an achievable goal?
2. Does the Silikon last for life or does it gradually leave the lips like fat injections or Dermagen?
3. 8 years ago I had some scar tissue and fat removed from another part of my body and injected into my upper lip - it dissolved completely within 6 months. Will this have any impact on the Silikon?
4. I have read that you are the best in the US for Silikon injections. Have you had any adverse reactions in your patients, and can Silikon cause tissue necrosis?
5. Will it remain in my lips or start moving around my face?
6. If my goal is only a 20% improvement, how many times would I need to come back to you for injections?
7. Is there any hardness in the lips from Silikon that you would feel, for example when kissing?

Many thanks.

Hi,
Thank you for the kind words. Yes, I have a lot of experience with silikon 1000. 20% increase is very doable and one round may truly be sufficient. most women desire 2 rounds with a few wanting 3 rounds. I usually cut them off around 2 to 3 if I think the lips will be too big. I also prefer a more conservative treatment. I have had very safe results with silicone and cannot imagine tissue necrosis??? with this product. Unlike fat which works very poorly in the lips, silicone is permanent. That is particularly why skilled hands should perform the procedure. My silicone is tremendously soft. I have seen really bad silicone that is hard due to bad technique. I use only microdroplets and place very little at a time. That is why my silicone is not hard. In fact, you can feel my girls' lips in the office. I defy you to feel anything in them. That in particular is why i HATE about almost any other product in the lips other than silicone. There is nothing that rivals silicone in terms of natural appearance and natural feeling. With the conservative microdroplet technique, migration should be virtually unheard of. I have never seen it. That is why I wait a month between treatments so that the silicone stays put and is held in place by your own collagen. The scar tissue should not affect my work. I look forward to take care of you!
best,
sml

Dr Lam, thank you for your prompt response to my post. How will the Silikon be affected by our natural collagen reduction due to the ageing of the skin?

It should not. The "collagen" to which I am referring is the micro scar tissue that develops around each particle to keep it in position.

Dr Lam, thank you for replying to my questions. Before I schedule my appt. with your office and book my flights, I have a few more questions:

I have high blood pressure and take medication for it. Can this cause complications with the silikon 1000 migrating into a blood vessel in my lips at some time in the future and causing tissue death or make my lips fall off due to necrosis?

There are some horror stories on the internet regarding problems with Silikon about lips falling off, and lumps forming 20 to 25 years after silikon injections. One of the cosmetic surgery websites says "silicone oil injections can cause granulomas, inflammatory nidus, macrophage activity and migration. "
I assume this is due to some doctors using a) a poor grade of silikon and a poor injection technique, and b) because it's better for business to have a patient come in for temp fillers like restylane a few times a year, instead of a few rounds of silikon that are permanent.

It's very confusing because there are numerous advocates of Silikon 1000 and then the media scare us by focusing only on the bad stories about silikon.

What are your thoughts on this, and what's the longest you have been in contact with one of your patients post-treatment?

I understand your fears, and I cannot just say, "Don't worry about it." I have done hundreds if not a thousand plus patients and have not seen any of these problems. I have been doing it for about 4 years now, as the longest time. But I have trained with reputable surgeons who have done it close to 40 plus years.

My honest feeling is that these problems come about from injecting wax and God knows what in there. The lips falling off simply makes no sense to me. I put very little drops a little at a time and wait to build it. I had a gentleman the other week who came in who had silicone injected before and his lips were very firm from the outset. I need to do a lip reduction for him because of overfilling from another place. But besides being overfilled and having no shape whatsoever, they were hard to start with due to bad technique. I had him feel my assistant's lips and he simply could not believe how soft they were. Technique and product are very critical when doing silicone. If you trust me, I look forward to take care of you when you are ready.
best,
sml

Dr Lam: I am busy booking my flights and scheduling my appointment to come and see you for Silikon, botox and restylane next month. I have one more question: I read that [u][b]silikon can cause lasers to ignite[/b][/u]. I have to have dental / veneers done in a few months time, and my gums will probably be lasered by the dentist. Will this have ANY effect on the silikon in my lips (I'm sure the dentist will cover my lips with a dental dam to protect them), and would you recommend having the dentistry done before getting my silikon injections or will it not make any difference? Can lasers really cause silikon 1000 to ignite?

I have never heard of such a thing. Check with your dentist. I do plasma resurfacing ALL THE TIME around silicone lips with no problems. In fact, I am putting up a video diary tonight of a lady in whom I did 2 rounds of silicone 2 years ago and just did a full face fat transfer, facelift AND full face plasma with no ignition. I would just recommend not to light a match too close to your face afterward (just kidding). look forward to meeting you.
best,
sml