Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty or liposculpture, is a surgical procedure to remove localised fat deposits that are resistant to repeated dieting and physical activity (sport, etc.). Sedentary lifestyle factors (recurrent weight fluctuations with repeated dieting that promote cellulite, alcohol intake, excess dietary sugars, smoking, etc.) are often implicated. This procedure should not be regarded as a weight‑loss method, a treatment for obesity or a treatment for superficial cellulite (dimples, “orange‑peel” appearance, etc.), for which other treatments are more effective. The outcome after liposuction will remain stable provided you do not experience significant weight changes. It reshapes the figure (in women as well as in men), making it more harmonious, and can be applied to many areas of the body such as the face (the jawline/“facial oval”, double chin) and the body (abdomen, hips, “saddlebags”, thighs, knees, arms and sometimes the back). Sometimes fat transfer (re‑injection of fat) can be performed at the same time, for example to the buttocks to increase their volume. To consider surgery, you will need to meet Docteur Lionel Sallaz for an initial consultation. After listening to your wishes and motivations, he will examine you carefully to ensure that surgery is appropriate, which he will explain to you precisely. He will assess the amount of fat to be removed as well as your skin quality, to inform you as fully and honestly as possible about this procedure by explaining what it can genuinely bring you and what it will not correct.
Anaesthesia – Hospitalisation Liposuction will be performed in the clinic’s operating theatre in a state‑of‑the‑art environment that has authorisation to carry out cosmetic surgery from the Haute Autorité Sanitaire (HAS). It is carried out under local anaesthesia, sedation (“enhanced local anaesthesia”) or general anaesthesia, depending on the case.
Procedure In practice, the surgeon first makes a small incision in the area to be treated, then injects a sterile solution specifically prepared for this purpose to prepare the area for liposuction. This “wet” technique has the advantage of reducing postoperative pain and increasing the amount of fat that can be safely removed. The deep fat is then aspirated using fine cannulas in a regular, even manner, preserving a certain thickness beneath the skin to obtain a smooth result (without hollows or bumps). A compression garment, called a panthy, is put on at the end of the operation. It should be worn for a few weeks to limit swelling (oedema) and to help the skin redrape easily. The postoperative course after liposuction is usually straightforward and not very painful. Patients tend to report discomfort rather than true pain. Bruising and swelling always appear in the treated areas, but they fade quickly after a few days.
Follow‑up Medical recommendations will be explained to you when you are discharged from the clinic on the evening of the procedure, for your home care until your next follow‑up consultation, which will take place at the surgeon’s practice. A few days’ rest to recover is advisable, and sport can usually be resumed after 2 to 3 weeks. The immediate result is usually satisfactory, but you will still need to wait several months for the final result to be visible after complete resolution of bruising and oedema.
Risks and complications After well‑conducted liposuction, these are rare. Nevertheless, although undertaken for essentially aesthetic reasons, liposuction remains a genuine surgical procedure, which implies the risks associated with any medical act, however minor. To minimise operative risks, you will always be seen in consultation before the operation by an anaesthetist experienced in this type of surgery. To limit the risk of infection, it is important to take pre‑operative showers at home with antiseptics. To reduce the risk of venous thrombosis of the lower limbs (phlebitis), specific measures will be implemented, including early mobilisation, wearing compression stockings and, in some cases, prescribing anticoagulant medication.
Overall, the risks should not be overstated, but simply recognised that any surgical procedure, even one that appears simple, always involves an element of uncertainty. Choosing a qualified plastic surgeon ensures that he or she has the training and expertise required to avoid these complications, or to treat them effectively should they occur.
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