Aesthetic body contouring surgery in Paris 16

Body contouring surgery applies to the whole body. It treats localised fat deposits by liposuction and reshapes the abdomen, arms and thighs where the skin and fat tissues have sagged after ageing, a pregnancy or significant weight loss.

Excess fat or excess skin: what is the difference?

This is the distinction that determines the indication, and it is the most poorly understood.

Liposuction removes fat. It assumes that the skin covering the area treated is elastic enough to retract once the volume has been removed. In a person with firm skin, the result is often excellent.

When the skin has lost its elasticity — after a pregnancy, significant weight loss, or with ageing — removing fat is not enough: the skin no longer retracts and an excess of skin appears. That excess must then be removed, which means a scar. This is the principle of abdominoplasty, of the arm lift and of the thigh lift.

The whole consultation consists in assessing that elasticity and explaining what each technique can and cannot do.

Do you need to have reached a stable weight?

Yes. Body contouring surgery is not a treatment for excess weight and is no substitute for one. It treats localised fat deposits or skin laxity in a person whose weight has stabilised.

A significant change in weight after the operation may alter its result, in either direction. It is therefore preferable to operate on a weight that has been stable for several months, particularly after major weight loss or bariatric surgery.

Which procedures may be reimbursed?

The arm lift, the thigh lift and abdominoplasty may be eligible for reimbursement where they treat a sequela of significant weight loss, with major skin laxity or an abdominal apron overhanging the pubis. A prior authorisation request is then sent to the medical adviser. Gynaecomastia likewise falls under reconstructive surgery. The other procedures in this category are aesthetic in purpose.

Frequently asked questions

Does liposuction make you lose weight?

No. It removes localised fat deposits and changes a figure, but the weight loss obtained is marginal. It is not a treatment for obesity.

Can several procedures be combined?

Yes in certain cases, but each additional procedure lengthens the operating time and increases the risks, particularly thromboembolic ones. This trade-off is discussed in consultation.