Fat Grafting Evolution Photographs
June 30, 2008 by dr. lam · Leave a Comment
Okay, I have finally put together serial photographs of my fat grafting results that spans weeks, months, to years following a single fat transfer procedure. Â I would like to thank Vassi who insisted that I undertake this assignment and repeated insistently the importance of these photographs to help prospective patients understand the evolution of change that occurs following fat transfer from swelling to a slight decline in a result in 2 to 6 months following the procedure to gradual improvement and plateau from 6 months to 2 years following a procedure. Â In 95% of the time I do not need to perform a touchup procedure so whatever your surgeon has told you that fat grafting does not last, the simple response that I have is “Rubbish!!!”. Â It not only lasts it improves over time. Â I hope these photos that I spent the last 4 hours compiling, organizing, and uploading provide some needed education about fat grafting changes over weeks, months, to years. Â Also, I want to remind everyone out there that these are MY photograph results that reflect my skill and artistry. Â Unfortunately, with the majority of surgeons out there, fat grafting does not work or last well and can be unsafe. Â So please do not use my results to extrapolate your perception of another surgeon’s work. Â I hope you enjoy and are educated. Â Thanks again Vassi for forcing me to get this done. Â The link can be found on the Before and After Gallery home page. Â Here is a shortcut.
YouTube, Plastic Surgery, and the Ethics of Testimonials
June 29, 2008 by dr. lam · Leave a Comment
I read an article on Thursday morning that appeared in the New York Times about the use of YouTube to market a plastic surgery practice. Â Most of you probably know that I use YouTube extensively to share with others about the nature of my practice including everything from virtual consultations to patient testimonials. Â In the article, the reporter discussed the ethical issues with a lot of the testimonials that appear on YouTube as being paid or discounted by the doctor so that the patient would say glowing things about the physician. Â Of course, I was deeply troubled by this and did some soul searching of my own. Â Fortunately, almost every single testimonial you see on YouTube and on my site are unpaid, uncompensated, and undiscounted. Â That lends obvious credibility to what the patient is saying. Â However, I thought rigorously about any exceptions to this rule. Â Sadly to say, yes. Â In the effort of full disclosure, SOME of the patients that appeared on some local news stories were given discounts or outright free services. Â Which ones? Â The two Restylane stories that appeared on WFAA were given free services. Â I truly don’t think that this fact decreases the integrity of the story since they were intended to be features on the injectables. Â Nevertheless, I wanted to clear the air. Â All my other news segments to the best of my recollection including my times on Good Morning Texas were from patients who paid in full. Â
The other thing that I thought about seriously was my request for patients to film themselves immediately before I go into the operating suite like in my patient video diaries. Â I now thinking about this fact feel that it was wrong to do it. Â I may have caused undue pressure (unwittingly) from my patients before surgery to agree to filming simply because they might have felt that my performance would have been affected (It would definitely not have been as I truly love my patients and care only about results). Â The language that I used was definitely very relaxed without any pressure. Â Nevertheless, I shall ask my patients who consented to the two-second long pre-procedure video whether I made them feel uneasy. Â If I did, I apologize. Â From now on, no matter how important patient education is, I shall try my best to follow the strictest ethical guidelines that you deserve. Â We are all imperfect souls, but the goal is to not make the same mistake twice and to live as ethically as we humanly can.
Are you down with Mani-Pedi? Try one at my new spa. I did!
June 26, 2008 by dr. lam · Leave a Comment
Okay, so it only took me close to 40 years of my life to get a manicure.  But it was worth the wait.  As you probably know, I just opened a gorgeous new spa in Plano.  Forget the ambiance, we have first class service here.  My mom tested each nail tech before their hire.  If you did not get the best service in the United States with us let alone Dallas I will be shocked.  Victoria and Lynn will blow your mind.  I had Victoria do my manicure (pictured), and it was amazing.  Granted, I don’t have any reference point unlike my mom and the other patrons who have been raving about their services.  What was the best was the hand massage at the end.  Really cool.  I will be featuring Lynn in this blog soon but here is Victoria’s bio.  She just got here from Florida where she worked at the Grand Floridian.  She is awesome: “My name Victoria from the Sunshine State of Orlando, Florida. I have been a Nail Technician for 9 years where I have worked for some of the most World Renown SpaÃs at the famous Walt Disney World. I have recently relocated to Frisco TX and enjoy performing Spa services in all aspects of Manicure & Pedicure cosmetology treatments.  At the Spa at Willow bend, I want my guest to feel rejuvenated & relaxed.
 Services which I perform requires me to consult with the client, prepare for the treatment, improve the appearance of the natural nails, filing the nails, applying skin & cuticle treatments, soaking & drying feet, removing excessive hard skin, massaging the foot & lower leg, providing nail polish & advice to clients. Well versed in all OPI/Creative brands, Acrylic ñ Pink & White.
I am fluent in Spanish & love to attend my local church in Plano.  Some of my hobbies include learning about Health & nutrition & also attending Beauty shows.
Skilled in all aspects of Manicure & Pedicure cosmetology treatments for groups and individuals, including full service for weddings, seminars, classroom presentations, and special events.
Â
PLASTIC SURGERY SITE GOES WIDESCREEN
June 25, 2008 by dr. lam · Leave a Comment
If you noticed something different about this site starting sometime today, you don’t need to check your glasses. Â Yes, LFP has gone widescreen. Â Unfortunately, most websites were built during a time when low res screens were the norm, including mine. Â Now, unless you are in outer Siberia (sorry Siberians out there), you have a relatively higher screen resolution and architecture so this website has increased its screen space. Â Accordingly, you won’t visually feel so cramped when you look at my website and every subpage will have a contact column that has all the functionality you desire in terms of search, calendar, etc. Â We are still fine tuning that. Â You can see with the expanded menu there is a direct access to the “Before and Afters” off the main menu. Â In addition, my new “flying in” section and “hospitality kit” will easily fit on the menu bar. Â This section is not done yet. Â I think practically we are still a while away from full HD though. Â I have one 1080i video on my hairtx.com site.
Smiling and Lip Position: Lip Augmentation Redux
June 24, 2008 by dr. lam · Leave a Comment
You guys know what I think about the upper lip by now right? Â If you don’t, I think it is one of the most over injected areas of the face, mostly due to two types of ignorance: Â the patients’ and the surgeon’s. Â The patient comes in desirous of the upper lip. Â WRONG! Â The surgeon desires the upper lip because he/she does not know any better. Â I had a very nice makeup artist who is my patient who just wanted a “little more” in the upper lip because she works with models with really big lips. Â I tried to explain to her not to get too crazy to put more silicone there. Â She definitely was very nice and believes in my philosophy but there is always the temptation of “How about just a LITTLE bit more, doc?” Â Even though we establish a relationship where you consent that you will trust me to stop you like a gambling addiction, you can still come in and say, “How about just a little more doc?” Â I know, I know. Â Just remember too much of a good thing can be very bad. Â
Sometimes less is more. Â Please trust me to shut you down if you want more that will lead to disaster. Â Interestingly, when I wanted to show this patient of mine a beautiful full set of lips that are well proportioned despite a small upper lip, I tried to pull Nicole Kidman’s photos from her Chanel Campaign. Â Unfortunately, the third image down on the Google search was of her smiling with an obviously distorted upper lip. (Interestingly, the article does not mention her lip just that they were happy that she stopped Botox during pregnancy so that “allowing her natural grace and good looks to appear.”) PLEASE! This is why when the lay press writes something they have no idea what they are writing.
If you look at her upper lip in the attached photo, it really is not that big. Â Then why do you and I see it as unmistakably fake? Â Because when she is smiling, THERE SHOULD BE NO LIP. Â Try that out in the mirror. Â When a normal human being smiles, the upper lip should flatten out not stay like some weird sausage. Â I had another patient come in and say, “Doctor, when I smile, my upper lip disappears.” Â My response is “Thank God!” Â Okay, you probably got enough information to last a lifetime on my sentiments of upper lip height. Â So before you stick that gore-tex, verafil, or some other disaster, or pull the lip up “just a little bit” with a lip lift, please look at your surgeon’s work and make sure that it fits your aesthetic.