Fat in the top lip - Don't

[Paula1]

Hiya,

A'wwwwwwwww thank you.

When I was visiting the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital before and after my October 2014 surgery, I saw some patients with facial problems that make mine seem nothing at all.

They have to continue living despite their difficulties as I do, so I am blessed compared to them, but actually they are blessed too, if you see what I mean.

I am also lucky to have good health (touching wood) and fast walk 2 miles every day to keep fit.

I often joke to friends that I will be having surgery on my deathbed ... 

Gotta look good when they bury me.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Hugs

Paula

Your positive outlook is so inspiring. So glad you didn't just give up! You're a great woman, Paula!

[Joi]

Hi Paula!

Thanks for your candid remarks and photos.  I wish you great success in the Spring.

I'm having the "lip lift" done next month.  I decided not to pursue any additions of "fat"  This rendition of the cons of that process confirms my decision.  Once healed, I can always get the occasional injection that is not permanent whenever I need it.

Happy New Year! &
Hugz!

Joi

[Paula1]

Hiya Joi ... 

Hi Paula!

Thanks for your candid remarks and photos.  I wish you great success in the Spring.

Thank you so much honeybun ....  I am excited but getting nervous too. This has got to be right this time.

I'm having the "lip lift" done next month.  I decided not to pursue any additions of "fat"  This rendition of the cons of that process confirms my decision.  Once healed, I can always get the occasional injection that is not permanent whenever I need it.

I wish you well with you lip lift and I am so glad about your decision not to have fat done.

If I can stop one person having to go through what I and other friends of mine have been through, then I am happy.

Happy New Year! &
Hugz!

Joi

And I wish you too a wonderful New Year ...

Hugs

Paula

[Elaine S]

Hi all, Just wanted to pop in and say I completely agree regarding adding fat to the top lip. In my experience a complete waste of time and it definitely negated the lip lift I had. Others may have better results. From a Dr I went to, he should have known better. When I got encourage to add form fat to my tin upper lip I specifically said "Just a bit, NO FISH LIPS" When I was in the Post-op he made the comment that "he jammed as much in there as he physically could."

Completely did against my wishes and thankfully most of the fat has metabolized with the remaining smaller than a pea sized nodule will be repaired later this year. It is not horrible but the lip lift was a fail because if this and more $$ down the drain.

No names as I'm not going  to slag him online. But I will send him a 1 year + review/critique in hopes (I know he will dismiss) he will listen to someone 's wishes or turn down the procedure. I could make other comments but we were discussing lip fill. My vote skip it.

Be safe
Elaine

[Paula1]

Hi Elaine,

I understand what you are saying by not wanting to slag him online and you may wish to go back and see him.

One of my USA friends has the same pea sized nodule that you have.

Hope that you resolve the situation to your satisfaction.

Take care and Happy New Year .. 

Paula

PS. I know of one patient of his who a lip lift done and said " No Fat " only for him to ignore her and put some in !!! 

Hi all, Just wanted to pop in and say I completely agree regarding fat to the top lip. Complete waste of time and it definitely negated the lip lift I had. From a Dr I went to, he should have known better. When I got encourage to add form fat to my tin upper lip I specifically said "Just a bit, NO FISH LIPS" When I was in the Post-op he made the comment that "he jammed as much in there as he physically could."

Completely did against my wishes and thankfully most of the fat has metabolized with the remaining smaller than a pea sized nodule will be repaired later this year. It is not horrible but the lip lift was a fail because if this and more $$ down the drain.

No names as I'm not going  to slag him online. But I will send him a 1 year + review/critique in hopes (I know he will dismiss) he will listen to someone 's wishes or turn down the procedure. I could make other comments but we were discussing lip fill. My vote skip it.

Be safe
Elaine

[JaniceNL]

I really don't see all too much danger in having fat grafted to enhance ones lips. It's obvious that the surgeon in this case screwed up and placed the fat at a wrong place. I really don't know how he could have made this mistake to begin with?

Regarding lips, a complication that I see way more than possible complications with fat grafting is that the surgeon lifts the lip too far, making it look like a cleft lip. Now that's something that worries me.

[Paula1]

Hi Janice,

I suppose it depends on who does the fat enhancement and where in the top lip?

In my case and many of my friends who have had fat done by this surgeon, we all to a greater or lesser extent look like we have been in the boxing ring !!! 

Hugs and Happy New Year

Paula

I really don't see all too much danger in having fat grafted to enhance ones lips. It's obvious that the surgeon in this case screwed up and placed the fat at a wrong place. I really don't know how he could have made this mistake to begin with?

Regarding lips, a complication that I see way more than possible complications with fat grafting is that the surgeon lifts the lip too far, making it look like a cleft lip. Now that's something that worries me.

[Denjin]

Hi Janice,

I suppose it depends on who does the fat enhancement and where in the top lip?

In my case and many of my friends who have had fat done by this surgeon, we all to a greater or lesser extent look like we have been in the boxing ring !!! 

Hugs and Happy New Year

Paula

That does appear to be the case - I do hope you manage to get sorted somehow.  It's terrible!

I had a procedure when I saw Dr. O where he took a small strip of skin that he removed elsewhere and put it in my top lift (as opposed to fat).  It seems to still look fine after 15 years... not sure if this is common or not.

[JLT1]

I had surgery by the same Dr everyone is talking about.  I told him in no uncertain terms to leave my eyebrows where they were located and no fat graph on the lips but to just do the lip lift.  I didn't end up with a bizzare nose either but I had to work a little on that. 

I think this surgeon needs very clear and very direct communication.  VERY CLEAR AND VERY DIRECT. I  can't emphasize that enough. 

I don't know how to help you though.  They might be able to pull/fold the lip up. That would help.  The brow thing would really help.  The nose remains a problem.  I know one thing that may work.  Grab the nose between the thumb and index finger like you are going to jump into the water.  Now swivel the hand toward the jaw, pulling down on the top of the nose.  The tissue is cartelidge and skin so it will stretch and move.  Do this for a few minutes three times a day for a couple months.  This expansion would give a surgeon something to work with in a future revision.

Hugs

Jen

[Paula1]

Thank you very much for your good wishes ..

That does appear to be the case - I do hope you manage to get sorted somehow.  It's terrible!

I had a procedure when I saw Dr. O where he took a small strip of skin that he removed elsewhere and put it in my top lift (as opposed to fat).  It seems to still look fine after 15 years... not sure if this is common or not.

[Paula1]

Hi Jen,

I had surgery by the same Dr everyone is talking about.  I told him in no uncertain terms to leave my eyebrows where they were located and no fat graph on the lips but to just do the lip lift.  I didn't end up with a bizzare nose either but I had to work a little on that. 

This is very interesting what you say and I am delighted that he listened to you ..  When I had my pre-surgery talk with him, I showed him the VFFS fotos that Alexandra Hamer had prepared for me and I said that " I want to look like that". However he completely ignored my instructions and turned me into one of his ' Trademark girls'. That is sheer arrogance ...


I think this surgeon needs very clear and very direct communication.  VERY CLEAR AND VERY DIRECT. I  can't emphasize that enough. 


Indeed but what can you do if he ignores you .. NOTHING

I don't know how to help you though.  They might be able to pull/fold the lip up. That would help.  The brow thing would really help.  The nose remains a problem.  I know one thing that may work.  Grab the nose between the thumb and index finger like you are going to jump into the water.  Now swivel the hand toward the jaw, pulling down on the top of the nose.  The tissue is cartelidge and skin so it will stretch and move.  Do this for a few minutes three times a day for a couple months.  This expansion would give a surgeon something to work with in a future revision.


You advice seems excellent thank you. When he performed the first attempt of reburring my forehead deformity in October 2010, we talked about him also redoing my nose and he said that he could rotate it down. I thought about it for a few minutes but his demeanour and attitude were very negative and I thought that he did not really want to do it. I lost confidence in him then as far as my nose was concerned and this forehead revision and the two later ones in 2012 & 2013 which did not work either were the final straw and anyway he said in no uncertain terms, " He could do no more for me".   So much for him saying "I stand by my work."


Hugs

Jen

Take care

Hugs

Paula

PS. The amount of stress this surgeon has caused me is awful and unforgiveable. I just hope that in a few months time, these last 11 years of nightmare will simply be a bad memory. In a few months time, I am looking forward to coming on here and saying something positive about me for a change.

[Dana88]

Oof. For me it came down to Facial Team and the surgeon that I assume everyone is talking about, and I ended up settling on Facial Team and am thrilled with the results at only 9 weeks postop. Everyone who works with them, from the patient coordinators, to the nurses, to the anesthesiologist, to everyone on the surgical team, is just so wonderful and all on the same page when it comes to your individual needs and wants. They run a tight ship. I am so so sorry to hear and see what happened to you Paula, but if anyone is going to be able to fix it, it's going to be Facial Team. You should have the utmost confidence in them.


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[Paula1]

Good Morning Dana,

Your post is the best " New Year's " gift any girl could wish for.

You have made my day, thank you.

I am so delighted that you chose Facial Team to carry out your FFS and congratulations on your result.

From all my meetings with Dr Capitan, Dr Simon, Dr Bellinga and the rest of the team, I have never received so much care and attention from medical practitioners.

My case is very complex but I have the utmost confidence that they will be able to sort me out.

Can't wait to April but naturally I am getting more nervous by the day which is normal, of course.

I once remember a surgeon saying that he would be wary of operating on someone who is not in the least bit nervous or apprehensive.

Happy New Year and take care

Hugs

Paula

Oof. For me it came down to Facial Team and the surgeon that I assume everyone is talking about, and I ended up settling on Facial Team and am thrilled with the results at only 9 weeks postop. Everyone who works with them, from the patient coordinators, to the nurses, to the anesthesiologist, to everyone on the surgical team, is just so wonderful and all on the same page when it comes to your individual needs and wants. They run a tight ship. I am so so sorry to hear and see what happened to you Paula, but if anyone is going to be able to fix it, it's going to be Facial Team. You should have the utmost confidence in them.


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[Kaley]

Paula,

You are really courageous and I'm glad you are sharing your experience with the members here.  I really am sorry for all of the surgical misfortunes you've had to endure throughout your life, but sharing your story will help many others make an informed decision before committing to any particular surgeon for what I consider to be a life changing decision. 

I definitely know which dr you are describing because I consulted with them last year for my FFS.  I also had a VirtualFFS done by Alexandra and had her evaluation compare to the types of procedures that the infamous dr wanted to perform on me.  It confirmed what I initially thought - that all those extra little procedures they wanted to throw in were completely unnecessary and excessive for a 28 y/o girl.

The advice provided to me by Alexandra as well as the input from the members here on my own FFS thread led me to FacialTeam and I just had my surgery with them last month.  I really could not be happier with my decision!  I feel the same way Dana does about FT and I am VERY thankful for the advice of all of the members here on the forum who pointed me in there direction.

I want to wish you the very best for your surgery with FT and know that you will be in very caring hands with their entire staff from start to finish.

[Paula1]

Hi Kaley,

Paula,

You are really courageous and I'm glad you are sharing your experience with the members here.  I really am sorry for all of the surgical misfortunes you've had to endure throughout your life, but sharing your story will help many others make an informed decision before committing to any particular surgeon for what I consider to be a life changing decision. 

Thank you for saying this, it's very sweet of you ...

I definitely know which dr you are describing because I consulted with them last year for my FFS.  I also had a Virtual FFS done by Alexandra and had her evaluation compare to the types of procedures that the infamous dr wanted to perform on me.  It confirmed what I initially thought - that all those extra little procedures they wanted to throw in were completely unnecessary and excessive for a 28 y/o girl.

Well it's not good to have procedures that you don't need especially at your age. Having one's face cut up is a big deal and the less the better.

The advice provided to me by Alexandra as well as the input from the members here on my own FFS thread led me to Facial Team and I just had my surgery with them last month.  I really could not be happier with my decision!  I feel the same way Dana does about FT and I am VERY thankful for the advice of all of the members here on the forum who pointed me in there direction.

This is wonderful to hear and congratulations on your surgery with FT.

I want to wish you the very best for your surgery with FT and know that you will be in very caring hands with their entire staff from start to finish.

Thank you so much and I know that I have made the right choice. Ever since I met Dr Capitan and his team in February last year in London, I knew that I was in safe hands. Their professionalism is outstanding.

Take care and thanks again.

Hugs

Paula

[Dahlia]

I had a procedure when I saw Dr. O where he took a small strip of skin that he removed elsewhere and put it in my top lift (as opposed to fat).  It seems to still look fine after 15 years... not sure if this is common or not.

That's called a dermal fatgraft. I've had the same procedure 11 years ago with dr Chettawut in Bangkok.
It felt and looked horrible at first; restricted smile, incredibly swollen upperlip...it took a year before the implanted skin stretched out and 'shrank' to normal proportions.

Now it looks perfectly fine and it looks totally normal. Which means no 'shelf lip' or 'duck mouth'

I understood dr Chettawut stopped doing dermal fatgrafts because of the restricted smile etc at first.

[Paula1]

Hi everyone,

My friend who had her face lift with Dr Bellinga at Facial Team yesterday also had a great load of fat removed from the area below her nose and above her top lip.

She always hated this procedure and it was far worse than mine because she was also given a top up while she was undergoing other revisions and was angry when she realised it was being done but too late to prevent it because she was so drowsy. 

I will be also asking Dr Bellinga next Tuesday during my pre-op consultation with him, Dr Capitan & Dr Simon, on how he feels about removing some of mine when he performs my secondary upper lip lift and complex rhinoplasty revision.