LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Hi Dr. Lam,

Thanks for having this forum. It is helpful to talk about this stuff sometimes. I am wondering how long I should wait to get a photofacial or microdermabrasion for brot spots, blemishes., and acne. I just had perlane in the cheeks.
Do you recommend sinecch (arnica montana 500 mg capsule) for swelling and bruising. Is this capsule helpful or harmful, I am against medications but I do have bruising and swelling in the cheeks from perlane.

personally, if you had perlane done by someone else, you need to call their office to ask. it is inappropriate for me to make competing "recommendations."

sinecch is fine. i think careful technique and some luck are much more important. but i give out sinecch to my patients who bruise easily or who are really worried.

do i think it works? not convinced strongly either way.

totally understandable, thanks for the advice.

Can I ask how you feel about dental blocks (injecting in the mouth to numb). I notice a few PS's do that when injecting fillers in the cheeks. They also use icing on the cheek areas to numb them. What is the purpose of the dental block as well, and do you think it is necessary?

absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i do it in every patient so that there is NO PAIN. the icing i follow with is to cut down bruising. icing alone does not eradicate pain. when i perform a procedure, my goal is NO PAIN WHATSOEVER AT ALL. that is why a block is so critical. however, blocks out there by inexperienced injectors suck badly. they hurt, they don't work, they last too long, they have epinephrine to make your heart race. MINE DON'T PERIOD!