LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Hi Dr. Lam, your exposure is truly amazing, i believe in your techniques and cannot wait to meet with you. I am from Vancouver BC, Canada and have contacted over 12 certified surgeons in my area. They all refuse to do fat grafting. Why is this? I mention your technique and they say that in the States there are more radical procedures performed. In Canada the surgeons appear to be more conservative. I believe fat grafting makes sense. Putting back in the volume is exactly what is happening to me now. I am 44 years old and the volume in my face is decreasing mainly around the eyes. Do it really take and last long. Does it move and create lumps?

Another questions re fat, we do not lose fat cells as we age, they just get smaller, am i correct. Next if you use estrogen rich fat cells they will respond first to gaining weight and last to losing. How do you determine where to take the fat.

Thanks for you attention and are you planning a trip to Vancouver, BC.

Richard

Hi Coho,
Not only are surgeons in Canada not doing fat grafting, few in the States are as well for the two reasons that you enumerated: "it does not last" and "you will get lumps". i have a 20 paragraph answer as to why my fat lasts in another forum question. please search another fat grafting entry entitled "fat grafting" for that answer. also, fat grafting done poorly can lead to lumps under the eyes. that is why i have written the definitive textbook on this subject to help my colleagues understand how to do fat grafting safely. that being said, i still have many surgeons who are still scared to perform the procedure. i have done 100s of fat grafts to date and never had a lump under the eye. I do a fat graft almost every other day and sometimes 2 a day, as this is my specialty with about 10 to 20% of my patients coming from out of state and out of country.

As far as what happens to your fat cells as they age, I cannot reasonably give you an answer, as I do not think any physician has quantified that. However, I would guess that you are truly losing fat cells in your face along with muscle and bone, etc. Also, yes, estrogen rich fat from the flanks/thighs/abdomen are the best sources as their "take" is truly excellent. You will hold that fat tremendously well.

Best,
SML