LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Hello Dr. Lam,

I am new to this forum and I have read through the old posts regarding lip surgery and I find them very informative and already answered most of my questions. After reading your post I concluded that lip implants and lip advancement is definitely not for me. I had restylane done in my country (I live in Europe) and I found that it wears off in about a month (at least in my case). It makes no sense for me to continue to do this as I looked weird for 5 days and then good (but not great) for 3 weeks. It seems to me that if done properly there are really minimal risks with silikone compared to other permanent solutions for the lips. Nevertheless it scares me, because it cannot be removed easily and I have heard so many horror stories. Plus it is not allowed to use liquid silikone in my country- only in a form of breast implants. It would be hard for me to fly overseas repeateadly in such a short spam of time to see you- but if it is permanent it just may be worth it. I am determined that I must see the best as this is my face- and after much research you seem to be just that. My absolute priority is natural looking lips- rather too small than too big. I like your aesthetic sense for the lips.
My questions are:
Have you had patients fly from overseas just for the lips? Can the time frame between injections vary?
Have you had any cases where the body rejected the silikone?
Is 23 years old too young for botox? According to your shirt analogy:) it is a way to prevent wrinkles from forming, but what is an average age you would recommend to start using it(I know it varies from person to person, but just an approximation)?
Is it true that when you start using botox, you must use it continuously otherwise it can be worse than if you would not use it at all?
Have you had any cases where patients complained about having severe headaches after botox?

It is hard, because in my country plastic surgery is not developed yet and I know that injections are just as important as surgery and the doctor must be really experienced and an artist to achieve good results.

Sorry for the long post- it's my first time. Thank you for providing great information.

Regards

Have you had patients fly from overseas just for the lips?
NO. BUT I HAVE HAD PEOPLE FLY IN FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FOR BOTH LIP AUGMENTATION WITH SILICONE AND LIP CORRECTION OF BAD SILICONE.
Can the time frame between injections vary?
YES. THE MINIMUM TIME IS 28 DAYS OR 4 WEEKS. AFTER THAT YOU CAN WAIT HOWEVER LONG YOU DESIRE. YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE THE RESULT BUT YOU DON'T TAKE A STEP BACK LIKE RESTYLANE IF YOU WAIT.

Have you had any cases where the body rejected the silikone?
NO. IT IS BIOINERT SUBSTANCE.

Is 23 years old too young for botox?
NO, NOT NECESSARILY. IF YOU ARE FAIR SKINNED, HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT SUN DAMAGE, AND AN OVEREXPRESSIVE UPPER FACE, THE NO. MOST OFTENTIMES FOR SOMEONE YOUNG LIKE YOU IF YOU ARE ALREADY NEEDING BOTOX USUALLY A YEAR OR SO OF CONSISTENT BOTOX AND SUN AVOIDANCE WILL ALLOW YOUR SKIN TO HEAL SO THAT YOU WON'T NEED IT AGAIN FOR MANY YEARS BUT THAT WOULD DEPEND ON YOUR SITUATION.

According to your shirt analogy:) it is a way to prevent wrinkles from forming, but what is an average age you would recommend to start using it(I know it varies from person to person, but just an approximation)?
YES, THE SHIRT IS CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND. READ MY 3 PART BLOG FROM 2 WEEKS AGO TO UNDERSTAND MY ORIGINAL IDEAS ABOUT BOTOX. I USUALLY DO NOT START BOTOX UNTIL AFTER 30 BUT IN FAIR SKINNED INDIVIDUALS WITH A HISTORY OF PREVIOUSLY ABUSIVE SUN EXPOSURE, I START IN THE 20S IN SOME.
Is it true that when you start using botox, you must use it continuously otherwise it can be worse than if you would not use it at all?
THAT IS TOTAL GARBAGE. ANY BOTOX WILL HELP YOU. IF ANYTHING SOMETIMES I RECOMMEND A YEAR OF BOTOX JUST TO BREAK BAD HABITS OF OVEREXPRESSION. THAT MAY BE THE CASE FOR YOU.

Have you had any cases where patients complained about having severe headaches after botox?
YES. IT CAN HAPPEN ESPECIALLY IF THE FOREHEAD IS DONE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP WHERE IT DOES NOT MOVE AS MUCH. IT USUALLY LASTS A DAY THEN GOES AWAY. I THEN ADJUST THE DOSE TO MINIMIZE THE RECURRENCE UNLESS THE WRINKLES ARE SO BAD THAT IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PATIENT I FIND IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT THEN I LEAVE THAT DECISION UP TO YOU.