Body lifts—whether for the arms, the buttocks (often referred to as 'chute des reins') or the thighs—should be considered when there is skin laxity in addition to fat deposits, and therefore when liposuction alone is not enough. In such cases, tightening the skin is required, alongside liposuction, to achieve a satisfactory, harmonious result. From your first consultation, Docteur Lionel Sallaz will take the time to listen and examine you, as scientific rigour is for him a prerequisite for caring for you safely. He will provide you with the most comprehensive medical information possible and advise you with your body shape in mind, so that you can consider your surgical plan and make your decision calmly.
Anaesthesia-Hospitalisation The surgical procedure will be performed under general anaesthesia in the clinic’s operating theatre, a state-of-the-art environment authorised to perform cosmetic surgery procedures by the Haute Autorité Sanitaire (HAS).
Principle The surgeon first performs liposuction to remove fat in the area concerned, then makes an incision to remove the excess skin, following precise pre-operative markings made beforehand. Once the wound is closed, the skin of the operated area is thus tightened (this is the lift). A compression garment will be fitted at the end of the procedure to compress the operated areas. Post-operative discomfort is usually mild.
Follow-up It will be carried out by Docteur Lionel Sallaz, first at the clinic and, after your return home, at his practice for post-operative consultations.
Risks and complications They are rare; nevertheless, although undertaken for primarily aesthetic reasons, an arm, thigh or buttock lift remains a genuine surgical procedure, which entails the risks associated with any medical act, however minimal. To minimise risks as much as possible, you will always have a pre-operative consultation with an anaesthetist experienced in this type of surgery. To reduce the risk of infection, you must take pre-operative antiseptic showers at home before surgery. To reduce the risk of bleeding, no medicines containing aspirin derivatives should be taken in the ten days before and after the procedure. Smoking is a risk factor for poor wound healing. Tobacco use should therefore be reduced as much as possible, or stopped 3 to 4 weeks before the operation, to reduce risks.
Overall, you should not overestimate the risks, but simply be aware that any surgical procedure, even one that seems straightforward, always involves an element of uncertainty. Seeing 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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