Dallas Fat Transfer/Fat Grafting Expert, Dr. Samuel Lam
How does Dr. Lam rejuvenate my face?
Dr. Lam believes almost categorically that lifting the cheek and brow are outdated modes of rejuvenation that do not reflect how a person looked in youth. Using old photographs, Dr. Lam focuses on preserving identity rather than altering it unfavorably.
This patient underwent corrective plastic surgery to return her identity back to when she was young. Using old photographs as a blueprint can be an effective way to ensure that an individual does not look like different person following a cosmetic procedure.
His principal method of rejuvenation today for the face is facial fat transfer that permits a seamless and natural cosmetic rejuvenation of the face, all done without a single incision. In fact, there are no knives, sutures, or bandages following the procedure. The only part of the face that he believes in lifting today is the neck and jawline and only when needed. (Please see his facelift section).
Why Fat Grafting?
Besides avoiding incisions, fat transfer permits the most natural results for the face and matches one’s own identity in youth rather than creating an arbitrary result that the surgeon believes is youthful. There are two principal goals with fat transfer: framing the eye and restoring the facial shape of youth. Let’s explore each concept more thoroughly.
What Does Framing the Eye Mean with Fat Grafting?
Perhaps framing the eye is one of the most important ideas to understand and also one of the most difficult to appreciate. Why? Because it is counterintuitive and exactly the opposite of traditional cosmetic eyelid surgery.
When we look at another individual, we are very focused on their eyes because that is the central point of attention during any conversation. It also reveals whether one is tired, angry or sad or rather unrejuvenated eyes can falsely make someone appear tired when he or she is not. Interestingly, many women are more focused on their mouth because they think that is what ages them more, even fine lines that may not be entirely perceptible to another individual. Looking at the face with an artistic eye is very important when Dr. Lam performs a consultation with you to decide which areas are the most important to remedy.
When looking at a youthful eyelid, there is naturally a fullness of the eyelid contour and a low (not high) brow. When looking at an older individual who has had a browlift, that is when you see a high brow that looks nothing like the person in youth. Don't believe it? Go back and look at your old photographs before you decide.
Traditional cosmetic eyelid surgery removes the youthful frame of the eye, further hollowing it and at times aging someone more but even worse altering unnaturally one’s identity. If you review your old photographs, you will be perhaps greatly taken aback to discover you actually had a low brow that was fuller than where it is today. If you have had a browlift, you will see that your brow is unnaturally higher than when you were younger. These are real problems. Without understanding identity and youth, we take away both instead of improving someone.
As we become older, we lose fat around the eyes. That is exactly what traditional eyelid surgery accomplishes, i.e., it makes you look even older. What would you cut or lift in the woman photographed? Obviously, the answer is nothing. She needs fat grafting to replenish the lost frame to the eye. If you have had a browlift or eyelid procedure, compare yourself now with your old photographs. You will probably notice you have a higher eyelid crease and a higher brow than when you were young, i.e., your identity has been unfavorably altered.
What is an ideal facial shape of youth?
Interestingly, many men and women are not thrilled with how full their faces were in their twenties owing to the “baby fat” that was present. Many women prefer a slightly thinner look of the early 30s, which gives way to the beginning of a gaunt, more tired expression in the late 30s, which in turn becomes progressively hollower thereafter. Men may like their faces slightly later than the early 30s (but that opinion varies), as men oftentimes look better slightly hollower than women.
So what is the ideal shape for women? In general, a triangle, where the cheeks are fuller and the chin is fuller to restore the heart-shaped face of youth. Sometimes, as women get older the lower outer face begins to dominate. In those cases, fat transfer to the central chin can actually make someone look thinner, which can be surprising. If there is a significant jowl and neck hang, then a facelift may be required. For men, the recipe is not so straightforward. Oftentimes, the outer cheek should be strengthened to create a more masculine shaped face. Balance and proportion are the keys to an excellent result.
This woman exhibits the inverted triangle of aging which has been restored to the youthful heart-shaped face or right-side up triangle of youth. Notice that the patient actually looks slimmer with fat added to the face (and without a facelift or liposuction). This is the mistake of thinking you will look fat after fat transfer. This is why the artistry that Dr. Lam exercises is as important as his technical skill.
Does Fat Grafting Last?
Absolutely, if done by the right hands. Dr. Lam performs safe, effective and permanent results that only further aging will erode. If your surgeon says fat transfer does not last, that is only because he can’t make it last. Dr. Lam has written two textbooks on fat grafting and is the world expert on this technique. Combining artistry and technical skill, he is able to create a balanced result that not only lasts but improves over time. How is that possible? After 6 months, the fat transfer result begins to improve as the blood supply to the fat is literally “connected.” Where other surgeons’ fat grafting results begin to disappear at this point, Dr. Lam’s results begin to improve. View case studies of Dr. Lam's improving fat grafting.
Fat Grafting Information
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