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Dr. Sam Lam - Lam Facial Plastics, Plano, TX

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Dr. Sam Lam - Lam Facial Plastics, Plano, TX

Natural, Passionate, Specialized.

"I see every patient with an artistic eye"

Natural, Passionate, Specialized.

"I see every patient with an artistic eye"

Natural, Passionate, Specialized.

"I see every patient with an artistic eye"

Natural, Passionate, Specialized.

"I see every patient with an artistic eye"

Natural, Passionate, Specialized.

"I see every patient with an artistic eye"

Natural, Passionate, Specialized.

"I see every patient with an artistic eye"

Natural, Passionate, Specialized.

"I see every patient with an artistic eye"

Natural, Passionate, Specialized.

"I see every patient with an artistic eye"

Natural, Passionate, Specialized.

"I see every patient with an artistic eye"

Fat Grafting

Conveniently located to serve Dallas and Plano, TX

What is fat grafting?

Fat grafting, also known as fat transfer, is a process in which fat is harvested from one part of the body like the belly and/or thighs, then processed and purified, followed by re-implantation elsewhere. The process of harvesting the fat is similar to liposuction but all performed by hand rather than connected to a high-pressure suction device and gently removed in small quantities. Fat can be used to be re-volumize faces, hands, breasts, butts, etc. However, Dr. Lam performs exclusively fat transfer to the face and/or hands. Dr. Lam discusses all of the pertinent details during his consultation with you but has summarized a lot of that information in his virtual consultation.

How is fat grafting performed?

As mentioned, there are three phases to a fat graft procedure: harvesting, processing, and injection. As a comparison, liposuction may remove 3 to 5 liters of fat (3,000 to 5,000 ml) whereas with Dr. Lam’s method of fat harvesting, he may remove 50 to 150 ml of fat. As you can see, it is far less than with traditional liposuction. Although he works with a body plastic surgeon who can simultaneously perform formal liposuction for body contour problems, his method only focuses on harvesting the fat for re-implantation.

Next, the fat is then processed to remove any of the impurities that would compromise longevity of the result. In the past, Dr. Lam used to use centrifugation but has found that an ultrafiltration method using PureGraft is better in terms of graft survival in his patients. Finally, the last phase of fat grafting is re-injection of the fat. He has been asked whether fat is removed as a solid, and no it is actually suctioned and re-injected like a liquid. Dr. Lam is very skilled with 20 years of experience injecting fat to achieve safe, long-lasting, and natural results that should age well for you over time.

Does fat last? How long does it last?

A question that patients always ask Dr. Lam is how long fat will last. In short, forever. However, this answer must be qualified and explained further. Initially, fat will look too full due to swelling and that may last 1 to 2 weeks and may even be slightly too full beyond that time. At a month or so, a patient may love the fact that the fat looks perfect but fat will be somewhat absorbed over time. Whatever survives (which is a very good percentage with Dr. Lam’s method) after the first 6 months will be permanent minus further aging. For example, if you have an identical twin sister (or brother) or has the same lifestyle (job, spouse, stress, sun exposure, diet, exercise), you should always look significantly younger than he or she does but both of you will continue to age. If your genetics and lifestyle are favorable, you should be able to look better hopefully for many years. Dr. Lam does see his patients come back after a decade or so to perform another fat transfer in those who desire to do so. He has heard that fat “only lasts a year”, which makes no sense, since it is a graft and once it has blood supply (after 6 months) it cannot disappear thereafter. Of course, if you lose major weight after the procedure, your fat cells can shrink in size.

I have heard not to inject fat around the eyes due to the risk of lumpiness?

This is a very common complaint on the internet. Dr. Lam not only has written the book on fat grafting and lectured on his method to perform safe fat grafting around the eyes for 15 plus years but he also achieves very safe results with smooth outcomes in almost all of his patients. He believes that fat grafting around the eyes is not only safe but also truly important to achieve excellent results in facial rejuvenation. The technique to attain consistent and safe outcomes is completely based on technique and experience, which Dr. Lam’s textbook, Complementary Fat Grafting, that he wrote in 2006, addresses. He has had the pleasure of teaching his method worldwide to scores of students who have adopted his method to perform safe and effective fat grafting around the eyes and in the entire face.

I do not want to look overfilled like a so-called “pillow face”? How does Dr. Lam avoid that problem?

This is a real problem that has plagued the industry and put a stain on plastic surgery. 30 years ago people were overlifted and now they are both overlifted and overfilled. Dr. Lam has looked back at his results over the past 20 years and noticed that long-term he encountered one area that has not aged as well with fat grafting, which is the anterior cheek. In a few of his patients, he has had to go back to perform microliposuction to correct it. Fortunately, he has not injected fat into the anterior cheek in more than a decade, but, unfortunately, the vast majority of surgeons who perform fat grafting love to inject it exactly into this area. Dr. Lam performs low volume fat grafting in areas that should not look “cheeky” when you smile and he does so simply by avoiding the anterior cheek and buccal recess, which are the two areas that are most susceptible to this problem.

Can I combine fat grafting with other procedures?

Fat grafting can be easily combined with other procedures like upper- and lower-eyelid procedureslasersfaceliftchin augmentation, etc. Dr. Lam believes that the aging that occurs in the eyelid area is mainly volume loss, so he may remove a little bit of upper eyelid skin or remove a little bit of lower eyelid fat but the principal method by which he rejuvenates the eyelids is by adding volume. Please see the section on Blepharoplasty for a more complete understanding on this subject.

Will fat grafting eliminate all of my wrinkles?

Not at all. Even though Dr. Lam does see that after a year or years later fat can make the skin look better, he would like to emphasize some major limitations with fat grafting. Fat is an amazing and natural way to restore lost facial volume. However, it does little to nothing for managing wrinkles. He likes to say there are three components to the aging process: gravity, volume, and skin/wrinkles. Fat only manages one of these three problems, namely volume. Gravity needs to be managed with other methods like blepharoplasty and/or facelifting, for example. Do not think fat will manage wrinkles though. This limitation is important to emphasize. Dr. Lam has many advanced methods of managing facial wrinkles but fat is not one of them.

Will it lift my jawline up? Do I still need a facelift?

No, fat does not lift the jawline up. Unfortunately, many dermatologists try to convince patients that deeply placed fillers in the cheeks will lift up the jawline. That simply does not happen and will not happen. If your jawline is sagging, you really need a facelift, which Dr. Lam performs oftentimes in combination with a fat graft procedure. However, for those who do not want a facelift can undergo a full-face fat transfer in which he places some fat along the jawline and may perform microliposuction of the jowls to improve the jawline, but do not expect that fat transfer will look anywhere as good as a formal facelift. He can counsel you as to the pros and cons of each procedure as it applies to your face. In any case, a fat transfer will definitely not elevate your neck tissue no matter how much fat is placed.

Do I need a blepharoplasty with my fat grafting around my eyes?

Only a formal consultation with Dr. Lam will help you decide whether you would benefit from cosmetic eyelid surgery at the same time. Please watch his virtual consultations on upper blepharoplasty and lower blepharoplasty to understand more precisely when that would be appropriate. In short, if you have a visible eyebag (not just hollowness), then Dr. Lam will almost definitely remove some fat (using his no-incision method known as transconjunctival) at the same time he adds fat to the lower eyelid lower down along the orbital rim of the eyelid. For the upper eyelid, he usually believes that the problem is not just sagging skin but also volume loss. Think of it like a balloon that deflates. When the upper eyelid deflates, part of the issue is usually the need for volume restoration with fat grafting. Again, Dr. Lam will discuss with you what methods including fat grafting, laser resurfacing, upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty, and/or browlifting would be helpful in your situation for your eyelid aging.

Dr. Lam’s approach to fat grafting

Facial volume loss is one of the major components of facial aging. Dr. Lam wrote the definitive textbook on the subject, Complementary Fat Grafting in 2006, and the book sold out for 15 years after its publication. Volume loss is only one component of aging and a surgeon with a good aesthetic eye should avoid the overfilled looks that have turned many people away from fat grafting and/or fillers. Dr. Lam will evaluate your aging face and tailor the right program for you to achieve your desired outcome based on your desires, anatomy, degree of aging, budgets, and recovery time. What is more important than the technical methods described above that outline how Dr. Lam performs fat grafting is the artistic eye that Dr. Lam applies to the procedure. The reason that his patients look balanced and not overfilled is that he has a great understanding of how to make a face look attractive in a natural not overdone way whether that involves fat grafting and/or other procedures.

What are the benefits of fat grafting?

Fat grafting provides a global volumization strategy for the face that can be far less expensive than the alternative, injectable fillers. Also, Dr. Lam truly believes now that fat grafting is the preferred method to achieve volume restoration around the eyes. He has now seen over time that even temporary fillers like Restylane can lead to visible migration even years later, which does not happen with fat grafting. Accordingly, he believes that hollowness around the eyes is best treated with fat grafting. Fat also provides a more economical approach when restoring a lot of lost volume, especially when compared to the price of office-based fillers. That being said, for wrinkles, folds, and creases, Dr. Lam still believes that fillers are preferred. Also, if you are planning to have a blepharoplasty and/or facelift, then a fat graft can be easily performed at the same time as these procedures.

What is the nature of the recovery?

The major problem after fat grafting is typically not significant discomfort. Instead, the major problem is that you may feel that your identity is altered for the first week or longer. This can be disconcerting even if you are prepared that it may occur. This is why Dr. Lam shows recovery videos on his website to prepare you (at least in part) that your eyes in particular will be swollen and temporarily change your identity. This problem will resolve over a period of 1 to 2 weeks. In a few cases it may take up to 3 weeks for you to like the result but in almost every case most people looking at you will probably feel you look pretty good at 2 weeks. This is due to the fact that we have a much harsher self-perception than what others hold of us. The areas where the fat is harvested (the belly and thighs) can be bruised quite a bit but fortunately these areas are coverable with clothing. The donor areas can also be a bit sore and when you work out feel as if you have worked them out too much. You can wear a light compressive dressing (which our nurses can counsel you on) to help minimize discomfort. You should try to avoid strenuous workouts for a week but then can slowly return after a week. Just avoid swimming and dirty water exposure (although you can shower after the first day) for the first 3 weeks if possible.

What are the risks of fat grafting?

Fat grafting has some known downsides. First, there is some variable absorption even though a high percentage is retained. Second, if one is prone to gain and lose a lot of weight, the volume of fat grafting may fluctuate in the face since it is a live graft. Third, if one is very young (<30 years of age, he or she may not be as good a candidate because one’s history of weight stability may not be as established. Third, even though it is permanent, there will be ongoing aging, so fat does not stop aging. Fourth, fat works poorly to manage surface defects like acne scars or linear scars. Fifth, fat works poorly for lines of the face like wrinkles and smile lines. If one appreciates the limitations of fat grafting, then Dr. Lam can leverage the advantages of fat grafting in that an individual can look remarkably rejuvenated for less cost all at once.

Will Fat Grafting work on my hands?

Besides the face, hand fat grafting can provide remarkable rejuvenation for the hands. Many times individuals overlook the importance that hands make to the overall appearance. Dr. Lam says that the only two areas that are not covered by clothing are the hands and the face/neck region. Hands can definitely give away one’s aging. The goal of fat grafting for the hands is not to eliminate wrinkles. Fat grafting does a poor job towards that end. Instead, fat grafting is intended to partially (but not entirely) cover exposed veins and bones of the hand that are associated with aging. Even though fat may not entirely cover all veins and bony landmarks or efface wrinkles, the appearance of the hands after fat grafting can truly look incredibly younger to an onlooker. This could be particularly important for public speakers or for those who use their hands a lot socially on a daily basis. For wrinkles, Dr. Lam uses fractionated lasers that can help improve the quality of skin but because hands cannot tolerate high doses of lasers not all wrinkles will be improved or eliminated. Using all-natural bleaching skin care products and photofacials should also be used in moderate to significant cases of sun damage to the hands.

This 33- year-old female is shown before and one month after incisionless surgery: fat transfer to the lower eyelids and no-incision eyebag removal.
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Are there any other limitations that I should know about fat grafting?

Like all of Dr. Lam’s procedures, he emphasizes not to use your left brain for analysis. What that means is that individuals are wanting complete elimination of problems like no hollowness under the eyes or perfect symmetry. None of this will occur with fat transfer. Instead, Dr. Lam is very confident in “right brain” results, meaning that you should look more youthful, less tired, more balanced, and more attractive. Women in particular evaluate their results from 3 inches with 8x magnification and wonder why one side looks slightly different from the other side, and Dr. Lam always emphasizes that “the two sides are not the same and can never be made the same.” He has stated this limitation thousands of times over the past 20 years. We are not robots and he cannot make a face perfectly symmetric or eliminate all flaws.
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Can Dr. Lam do touch up fat grafts? Does he charge for that?

The key is to understand the above-stated limitation that fat grafting will not eliminate any problem but just improve the face. That being said, if you truly want to have more fat transplanted, Dr. Lam charges a reduced fee (when performed within a year) to add fat but highly recommends you wait at least 6 months before making any plans to do so to see a somewhat final result. If you approach your face with the right-brained perspective mentioned in the last answer, then more likely than not you will not need another fat graft for many years.
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Does Dr. Lam believe that I should do fillers or fat grafting for my hands?

In general, if there is moderate to significant aging, hand fat grafting is definitely Dr. Lam’s preferred method. Hand fat grafting can give you the most “bang for your buck” since it can take quite a bit of fillers to even approximate a hand fat graft result (except for the younger patient with early hand hollowness.) With hand fat grafting he is able to fill even the knuckles and the fingers for a global fill. It should be noted that the recovery with hand fat grafting can be longer, lasting 2 to 3 weeks where the hands may look swollen and bronzed (reddish-brown discoloration). However, fortunately, most individuals really don’t notice hands being swollen and usually it is not as unsightly as one thinks.
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Should I do fat grafting or fillers for my face?

This is always the major decision process for each patient. As a general rule, for younger patients with early signs of hollowness, fillers are preferred and more than adequate. For someone in their 40s or older, especially someone who has not had fillers before, fat may be more of a universal and cost-effective solution. Even though fat grafting may cost less for a global fill, you may have a tighter initial budget. Fillers offer a less expensive option than fat grafting when targeting just a few select areas of the face that are of critical importance. Dr. Lam is very good at counseling you on which procedure would be better for you based on numerous factors, some of which have been outlined above.

What are differences between fat grafting vs. fillers?

Comparison Chart between Fat Grafting vs. Fillers

There are two principal ways to restore facial volume: fat grafting and facial fillers. This is oftentimes a confusing decision for many patients. The following table lists the pros and cons of each method based on Dr. Lam’s experience. Even though this table outlines some of the basic pros and cons of each method, only a consultation with Dr. Lam can help establish with you which method would be better in your case.

Fat Grafting Fillers
Type of Procedure Surgical (but no incisions) Office-Based
Ideal Age Over 30 years old (with enough facial volume loss to justify the procedure, relatively stable weight, and healthy to tolerate Any Age
Short-Term (Initial) Cost Higher Lower
Long-Term Cost Lower Higher
Recovery 7-10 days: You will not look socially acceptable during the first week but typically have very little discomfort during that time. You should take at least a week off from work. Typically, mild swelling for a day or so but if there is bruising, that could last in rare cases over a week to two. Ideally, you should give two weeks before major events, a week before minor events, but many return to work the same day or the next day if they are willing to accept some mild swelling and possibly some minor bruising.
Benefits
  1. Can provide the most cost-effective solution for an individual with moderate to significant volume loss
  2. Preferred solution for hollowness around the eyes
  3. Permanent solution minus some initial resorption and also further aging
  4. Can provide improvement in the quality of skin over time (‘stem cell’ effect) but Dr. Lam does not
  1. Can be tailored to one’s budget (small, moderate, or more)
  2. Typically, very little recovery
  3. Can be effective to treat areas that fat does not fix well like folds and wrinkles or for minor corrections of fat
  4. Office-based without need for anesthesia
  5. Not weight dependent
  6. Can last many years after a few rounds
  7. Reversible, dissolvable
Limitations
  1. More recovery time than fillers (see above)
  2. Some initial resorption of fat
  3. Does not effectively manage smile lines or lips
  4. Fat is dependent on weight, with too much weight loss the fat can look partially resorbed, or worse with weight gain the face can look too full
  1. Can be costlier over time when trying to simulate a fat transfer
  2. Can take multiple rounds of fillers to achieve longevity so multiple smaller rounds of recovery can exceed the one larger recovery time of fat transfer
  3. Very low risk (but still possible) of infection since it is not one’s own tissue
  4. Not ideal around the eyes due to risk of migration even years

How Much Does Fat Grafting Cost?

The overall cost of a Fat Grafting is affected by anesthesia fees, hospital fees, post-surgery garments, and medications. Price is also impacted by medical tests, surgeon’s fees, and the exact techniques employed.

Schedule a Fat Grafting Consultation

Schedule your consultation for Fat Grafting in Plano, TX– contact Dr. Sam Lam and set up your appointment. During your appointment, you will be able to ask questions and bring up any concerns you may have about the procedure. Contact us today to get the look you’ve always wanted!

Your Cosmetic Surgery Procedures will be performed by Dr. Lam's surgery center located in Plano, TX.

Dr Lam has helped me with fat transfer, botox, and fillers. He is an amazing person with a great personality. I would trust Dr Sam Lam with any Plastic, Reconstructive, or Cosmetic Surgeon procedure. His office runs like a well oiled machine and his staff are super friendly!

Videos:

For additional videos on fat grafting, please click here
For additional fat grafting and facial rejuvenation testimonials, please click here

Photos:

Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Hand Rejuvenation Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
Fat Grafting Before & After
For additional fat grafting photos, please click here
For additional hand fat grafting photos, please click here
For additional information on hand fat grafting, please click here

All fat grafting procedures are performed by Dr Lam personally, at his Cosmetic Surgery center in Dallas Texas. To schedule a fat grafting consultation call 972.312.8105 or email us. The details of your fat grafting procedure (both the limitations and the benefits in your particular situation) will be explained to you during your consultation with Dr. Lam and his team.

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