Dr. Lam has a large number of patients who travel from across Texas and the United States to complete a procedure with him. Accordingly, he has put together this section to answer very common questions about what you need to know regarding a long-distance consultation process, the procedure and the after care. The level of detail that Dr. Lam has created for this website has been undertaken in response to his patients who travel from abroad and require as much information about Dr. Lam and his procedures before meeting with him in person. 
Step 1:
Review Dr. Lam's website in detail for procedures that may interest you including all of the pertinent FAQs, virtual consultation, before and after gallery, narrative page for your particular procedure(s), the consultation process, financing information, and any other related information that interests or concerns you. Step 2:
Contact the office 888-866-3388 during normal business hours 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday to schedule a personal one-on-one consultation with Dr. Lam. Dr. Lam much prefers to speak with you in person for a more detailed evaluation but can do so over the phone if need be. If you cannot fly in for a face-to-face consultation with Dr. Lam, he will require an email from you that shows representative and current photographs of you from the frontal view, oblique (turning 45 degrees) both to the left and right, and at least one profile view. For nose surgery, please add a view of the bottom of the nose, i.e., with your head tilted back. Try to find a light-colored and clutter-free background for your photographs. Also do not stand next to a window where shadows will obscure your features. Dr. Lam's patient care coordinator will then schedule a phone consultation with Dr. Lam during which time you can discuss with him your aesthetic interests and concerns as he reviews your photographs. In order to secure this time, you must pay the $100 consultation fee with your credit card. Dr. Lam's patient-care coordinator will then prepare a price quote for you and help to coordinate your care in preparation for a procedure when you are ready. Before your phone consultation time, please download all of the relevant patient forms including the appropriate patient encounter form and HIPAA privacy form, fill them out, and fax them back to Dr. Lam's office. Our fax number is 972-312-8838. In summary, for your phone consultation with Dr. Lam, we require four things: 1) a $100 consultation fee, 2) standardized, high-quality photographs of yourself, 3) the patient encounter form and HIPAA forms completed and faxed back, and 4) a scheduled time to talk with Dr. Lam in his appointment book.
Although photographs and a phone conversation can help you refine your aesthetic needs and interests, there is no substitute for a personalized in-person consultation in which Dr. Lam can perform a more careful physical evaluation and truly get to know you better. To schedule a surgery date, you must put down 20% of the total fee via credit card to ensure that you have that date locked in. However, as explained in the consultation process section of this website, Dr. Lam's nursing director must still assemble the necessary team and confirm that date's availability, which may take several days to complete. The remaining balance is due a minimum of two weeks prior to your procedure and is non-refundable. During a phone conversation with Dr. Lam's nurse, your health history will be reviewed. Following Dr. Lam's directive, she will determine what preoperative evaluation from your personal physician will be required before you fly in for your surgery or procedure. Generally speaking, Dr. Lam would like to have an EKG for anyone over 50 years old and a general health screening as well. If you have any known heart conditions or a strong family history of heart problems, he may require a cardiologist or specialist to evaluate you with a formal Stress Test. Planning ahead for this clearance can truly help you ensure that your desired surgery date is not unduly delayed. Step 3:
Download all of the patient instruction forms that are relevant for your procedure. In most cases, you should download the General Preoperative Instruction Sheet and the General Postoperative Instruction Sheet along with the applicable procedural instruction sheets such as After Blepharoplasty Instruction Sheet, etc. Please note that the "Medications to Avoid Sheet" is an abbreviated version of the General Preoperative Instruction Sheet so you do not need to download both. The "Medications to Avoid Sheet" is really intended for patients who are desirous of Botox or other simple fillers. Similarly, the "Minor Procedure Instruction Sheet" is an abbreviated version of the General Postoperative Instruction Sheet for patients who are to undergo a small procedure like mole removal so you do not need to download both. If you are planning to undergo plasma skin resurfacing, you must read and comply with the Before Plasma Skin Resurfacing Instruction Sheet and purchase all of the necessary care materials enumerated in that sheet. Step 4:
Fly in at least one day prior to your procedure and meet with Dr. Lam and his staff during a scheduled appointment when you will complete all necessary paperwork, sign all consent forms, take standardized preoperative photographs, and most importantly meet with Dr. Lam to confirm the planned surgical intervention in preparation for your procedure. You can hail a taxicab from the airport, hire a limousine service, or rent a car. Airports
You will fly into the DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) airport in most cases. The smaller regional airport Love Field Airport may also be a destination for some travelers. Without traffic, we are located about 25 to 30 minutes away from both airports. American Airlines is headquartered at DFW and may be the most convenient airline to fly directly into Dallas in most cases. For a map from DFW Airport to our office click here. For a map from Love Field Airport to our office click here. Hotels
You should also arrange your own hotel accommodation for the time that you will remain in Dallas. The following is a list of current hotels that are close by to Dr. Lam's offices and surgery center, listed in order of proximity:
Hyatt Place
3100 Dallas Parkway, Plano, TX 75093, New, Not Rated*
1.0 miles and about 1 minute away, click here for driving directions
For Dr. Lam's special medical rate ($89/night Su/Th/Fr/Sa and $129/night Mo/Tu/We), please contact Bobby Sparks at
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or call 972-378-3997.
*Dr. Lam has personally visited the suites and based on his short visit highly recommends this hotel for the quality of the rooms, cost (with the medical rate), and proximity to Dr. Lam's office and surgery suites. If you have any feedback, please let Dr. Lam know about your stay there.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites, 3 stars
3101 North Dallas Parkway, Plano, TX 75093
0.7 miles and about 1 minute away, click here for driving directions
For Dr. Lam's special rate of $79/night, please contact Lisa Morakabian, the Area General Manager, at
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or 972-403-1112 ext 7800.
Courtyard by Marriott Plano/Legacy Park
6840 North Dallas Tollway, Plano, TX 75024, 3 stars
3.0 miles and about 5 minutes away, click here for driving directions Marriott Hotels & Resorts
7120 Dallas Parkway, Plano, TX 75024, 3.5 stars
3.4 miles and about 5 minutes away, click here for driving directions
For Dr. Lam's special rate, please contact Joan directly at 972-473-4217.
Residence Inn by Marriott
5001 Whitestone Lane, Plano, TX 75024, 3 stars
4.4 miles and about 7 minutes away, click here for driving directions Westin Stonebriar Hotel
1549 Legacy Drive, Frisco, TX 75034, 4 stars
4.7 miles and about 7 minutes away, click here for driving directions Dr. Lam can also arrange your aftercare, as you are required to have a companion at least for four hours following your procedure. The companion will take you back to your hotel and take care of you for the required minimum four hours or for longer as needed. We offer two levels of service: standard companion service with a non-licensed, non-medical personnel and a licensed registered nurse. Generally speaking, for a healthy individual, standard companion service should be adequate. If you are traveling with a companion already, then you may decline this service. Costs for companion/nurse services are extra, and you will be responsible to pay the individual who will take care of you directly. Also, if you elect to have a non-licensed, non-medical companion, you must sign a waiver stating that the individual is only present as an escort/companion and not providing medical services in any way. Step 5:
Whatever procedure you have undergone (except injectable fillers like Restylane, Silicone, Botox, etc.), you should stay at least one night before returning home. Here are some guidelines for your stay based on the procedure you have performed: Facial Fat Grafting (1 day stay)
If you had facial fat grafting performed, you can see Dr. Lam the following morning before you return home. Since there are no bandages or sutures to remove, you can return home the following morning and return to Dallas only if you should have questions or would like to be evaluated by Dr. Lam. You can also stay for a few days in case you have some bruising that you would like Dr. Lam to reduce with his laser. Otoplasty (1 day stay)
Like other surgeries, you must stay at least one night. You will see Dr. Lam the following morning and have your bandage removed. If there is not a lot of swelling (which is usually the case), you may return home the following morning. If there is more swelling than Dr. Lam anticipated, occasionally he prefers to put the larger conforming dressing on for one more day. This is not critical and also not often necessary so in most cases you should be able to return home the following day. The sutures that Dr. Lam uses will dissolve on their own in 2 to 3 weeks. Rhinoplasty (7 day stay)
You will have a splint on your nose that Dr. Lam will remove on the 7th day. You will also have sutures to be removed on the 7th day. Dr. Lam much prefers to make sure that you are doing well and to see you until the splint is removed before you leave. If you have a trusted colleague of Dr. Lam's in your hometown, he may permit you to leave earlier but he discourages your doing so if possible. Also, if you have any bruising (which is truly uncommon), Dr. Lam can reduce the bruising significantly with his laser treatment when the splint is removed. Blepharoplasty (1 to 7 day stay)
If Dr. Lam performs a lower eyelid procedure, the method Dr. Lam uses is entirely incisionless, i.e., without sutures, so you may leave the following morning back home. In most cases, Dr. Lam also performs fat grafting to provide a more balanced rejuvenation around the eyes. As mentioned above, you can still return home the following morning after surgery. If you had an upper blepharoplasty (i.e., you had your upper eyelids enhanced, including Asian "double eyelid" procedure), you will need to remove your sutures on the 7th day following surgery. Occasionally, Dr. Lam will remove skin sutures on the 5th postoperative day. However, he will never do so this early following Asian blepharoplasty. Cheek and Chin Augmentation (3 to 10 day stay)
For cheek augmentation, Dr. Lam typically uses a bolster dressing on the cheek for approximately 3 to 5 days. After the bolster dressing is removed, you may return home. The bolster dressing is a tiny cotton pad that secures the implant more firmly through the skin. Dr. Lam uses a dissolvable suture in the mouth so that you will not require any suture removal. The sutures dissolve over a period of a week or two. For chin augmentation, Dr. Lam removes the sutures on the 10th postoperative day. If you cannot stay for that long a time, Dr. Lam can remove the sutures earlier on the 7th day and put a reinforcement tape before you leave. Plasma Skin Resurfacing (5 to 10 day stay)
Healing following plasma skin resurfacing is variable, lasting anywhere between 5 to 10 days. Dr. Lam typically sees you every other day or more frequently depending on your comfort and desire. Dr. Lam prefers that you do not leave Dallas until 100% of your new skin is intact, which again requires 5 to 10 days in most cases. Facelift/Neck Lift (7 to 10 day stay)
Dr. Lam prefers that you stay for 7 to 10 days following a facelift/neck lift if possible. Most sutures are removed 7 days after the procedure. Dr. Lam prefers to remove sutures under the neck on the 10th postoperative day but can do so earlier on the 7th postoperative day and place reinforcement tape as needed. Other information and amenities
During your stay in Dallas, Dr. Lam would also like to orient you to the available amenities around the West Plano and North Dallas area near his center that you and/or your companion may enjoy while you are in town. For more information on the current events in town, dining options and reviews, and other information about the greater Dallas metroplex, please visit Guidelive.com or visitdallas.com Nearby Shopping
(listed in decreasing order of proximity to Dr. Lam's center) The Shops at Willow Bend
6121 Park Blvd., Plano, TX 75093 972-202-4900
Located directly across the street from Dr. Lam's center
High-end shopping mall that includes Neiman-Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Dillard's, Apple, Burberry, Emporio Armani, Hugo Boss, Banana Republic, J.Crew, and many more. Shops at Legacy
7200 Bishop Rd., Plano, TX 75024 214-473-9700
4.0 miles (about 7 minutes) from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
Outdoor shopping arcade that includes dining, shopping, nightlife, and movie theatre Stonebriar Centre
2601 Preston Rd., Frisco, TX 75034 972-668-6255
6.1 miles (about 10 minutes) from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
Family oriented shopping mall with over 160 stores, ice-skating, carousel rides, movie theatre, and chain restaurants like Bucca di Beppo, California Pizza Kitchen, The Cheesecake Factory, Chili's Too, and Dave & Buster's. Galleria
13350 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75240 972-458-6803
8.2 miles (about 12 minutes) from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
Popular shopping mall that is easily accessed on the Dallas Parkway. Shops include Saks fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Macy's, Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy, Coach, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Cartier, Baccarat, and Tiffany & Co. There is also an ice skating rink. Northpark
1030 Northpark Ctr., Dallas, TX 75225 214-987-0840
14.8 miles (about 22 minutes) from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
Classic mall that has always remained popular but has undergone a recent renaissance with the opening of many high-end boutiques, including Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Bottega Veneta, and the newly reopened Barneys New York. The center also includes Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co., Salvatore Ferragamo, and Apple. Nearby movie theaters
(listed in decreasing order of proximity to Dr. Lam's center) Cinemark Tinseltown USA – Plano
(Large cineplex movie theatre)
3800 Dallas Pkwy., Plano, TX 75093 972-665-2222
1.6 miles (about 2 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For showtimes, click here Studio Movie Grill – Plano
(Movie theatre with in-movie dining)
4721 W. Park Blvd., #100, Plano, TX 75093 972-991-6684
3.4 miles (about 7 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For showtimes, click here Angelica Film Center & Cafe
(Independent, art-house, and foreign movie theatre)
7205 Bishop Rd., Plano, TX 75024
4 miles (about 7 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For showtimes, click here Cinemark Plano Movies 10 Westpark Village
(Dollar theatre)
1818 Coit Rd., Plano, TX 75075 972-985-1394
4.7 miles (about 10 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For showtimes, click here Movie Rentals
For our out of town guests, we have a portable DVD player and over a 150 movie selection that you can borrow from our DVD library free of charge during your stay if you would like. If you would prefer to rent from Blockbuster, the nearest one to Dr. Lam's office is located at 5960 West Parker Road, Ste.298, Plano, TX 75093 972-378-9132, which is located 1.5 miles (about 2 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center. For map, click here. Casual Dining
(Restaurants are listed in decreasing order of proximity to Dr. Lam's center. All food rankings are taken from Guidelive.com and do not necessarily reflect Dr. Lam's opinions. For Dr. Lam's opinions, please read Dr. Lam's review. The restaurants listed have been selected on the basis of proximity, food quality, and diversity of cuisine. Dr. Lam would also like to remind you to refrain from any alcohol consumption prior to and after your scheduled procedure.) Maggiano's (3 of 5 stars)
(Italian)
6001 W. Park Blvd., Plano, TX 75093 972-781-0776
0.9 miles (about 2 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For review, click here
Dr. Lam's review: The food is not the best Italian in Dallas, but the restaurant serves straightforward interpretations of Italian fare in gargantuan portions. Come with a Texas-sized appetite or be prepared to share your meal or take it home with you. Be forewarned if you order any "large" sized portions that you are over ordering. I listed this restaurant because it is situated on the other side of the mall, one block away from the surgery center. The Keg Steakhouse & Bar (3 of 5 stars)
(Steakhouse)
6101 W. Park Blvd., Plano, TX 75093 972-403-0430
1.0 miles (about 2 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For review, click here
Dr. Lam's review: I really like this Canadian chain restaurant for its price and quality of meat. It is not top shelf beef but excellent for the price. If you prefer your steak rare, try the baseball cut. That's my favorite. Blue Fish (3.5 of 5 stars)
(Japanese)
18149 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75287 972-250-3474
3.1 miles (about 5 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For review, click here
Dr. Lam's review: Very fresh sushi and sashimi for those who like this kind of Japanese food. The restaurant also offers some nouveau twists on standard Japanese fare that you may find appealing.
Mi Cocina
(Mexican)
5760 Legacy Dr., Plano, TX 75024 972-473-8745
4.0 miles (about 7 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For review, click here
Dr. Lam's review: Very good Tex-Mex cuisine. It is usually quite crowded so be forewarned. If you are from the Northeast of the United States, this is not traditional "Mexican" food but our Texas interpretation of it. I love it. If you want recommendations for more "haute" versions of Mexican or Tex-Mex fare, please ask me.
Fireside Pies (4 of 5 stars)
(Brick-oven pizza)
5717 Legacy Dr., Plano, TX 75024 972-398-2700
4.1 miles (about 7 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For review, click here
Dr. Lam's review: Okay, I've been spoiled by the wonderful pizzas in New York City during the time I spent at Columbia U. For those who are not familiar with my philosophy about pizza... There are two varieties: street and brick-oven. If you are in New York, my favorite street pizza is Joe's in the West Village (featured in Spider-Man) and for brick-oven, Grimaldi's (formerly Patsy's, then Patsy Grimaldi's, now Grimaldi's) in Brooklyn [worth the trip] and not to be confused with any of the rip-off versions in NYC known as Patsy's). Okay, so I digress. For Dallas, Fireside Pies offers very good (but not New York quality) brick-oven pizzas in a nice upscale environment. Okay, so I am a pizza snob. UPDATE: GRIMALDI'S OPENED HERE IN DALLAS ON DECEMBER 17, 2007! CHECK OUT MY BLOG FOR MORE INFO.
Maguire's (4 of 5 stars)
(American)
17552 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75287 972-818-0068
4.1 miles (about 8 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For review, click here
Dr. Lam's review: Maguire's is a nice restaurant that offers good quality standard American food. I have never been disappointed by Maguire's. It is not haute cuisine, but who wants to eat that all the time? Fine Dining
(Restaurants are listed in decreasing order of proximity to Dr. Lam's center. All food rankings are taken from Guidelive.com and do not necessarily reflect Dr. Lam's opinions. For Dr. Lam's opinions, please read Dr. Lam's review. The restaurants listed have been selected on the basis of proximity, food quality, and diversity of cuisine. Dr. Lam would also like to remind you to refrain from any alcohol consumption prior to and after your scheduled procedure.) Roy's (3.5 of 5 stars)
(Hawaiian-Asian Fusion, Seafood)
2840 Dallas Parkway, Plano, TX 75093 972-473-6263
0.9 miles (about 2 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For review, click here
Dr. Lam's review: Roy's makes some great Fusion cuisine (even though I am not a big Fusion cuisine fan). Their sushi is fresh and serviceable but nothing to write home about. I would recommend if you go there to have their seafood not their meats: the seafood is much better than the meat. III Forks (3.5 of 5 stars)
(Upscale steakhouse)
17776 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75287 972-267-1776
3.7 miles (about 6 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For review, click here
Dr. Lam's review: If I think of going to have a great piece of meat, I think of going to III Forks. Their wet-aged meats offer a very succulent and non-smoky taste that is widely appealing. I love III Forks. Period. My medical assistant informs me that their seafood is to die for, but I have never tried it since the only reason I would go to III Forks is to have a steak. Their New York Strips and Rib Eyes are out of this world. If you want to see a real Texas décor, go to III Forks.
Jasper's (4 of 5 stars)
(New American)
7161 Bishop Rd., Plano, TX 75024 469-229-9111
4.1 miles (about 7 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For review, click here
Dr. Lam's review: I really like Jasper's a lot, although I know many people who think it is a bit pricey and overrated. The restaurant labels their food "backyard cuisine". Let me know if you figure out what that means. The ambience is also really nice and upscale. Oceanaire (4 of 5 stars)
(Fine seafood)
13340 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75240 972-759-2277
(Located inside the Westin Hotel which is part of the Galleria Shopping Mall complex)
8.2 miles (about 12 minutes) away from Dr. Lam's center
For map, click here
For review, click here
Dr. Lam's review: Okay, this is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Dallas. They serve the best seafood in Dallas hands down. If you like raw oysters, you must try the many varieties they serve. The fish is simply incredible. Be careful with the desserts. They are way too big unless you have a big party or skipped the dinner (but don't do that).
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