Discover our technical expertise and creativity dedicated to body contouring surgery in Switzerland.

On this page you will find useful information about liposuction, including questions related to the initial consultation . We then invite you to discuss your plans during a medical consultation at Quai Perdonnet 3 – 1800 VEVEY or at Avenue Mon-Repos 14 – 1005 LAUSANNE.

   In consultation with the Doctor Stéphane SmarritoTime will be taken to answer all your questions professionally and kindly! We can then discuss together the implementation of your liposuction.

Your first consultation for liposuction

It is important that a person feels completely comfortable with their chosen cosmetic surgeon. It is equally important to ensure that they select a healthcare professional who is a specialist in their field and possesses the appropriate qualifications and certifications.

What to expect during a first liposuction consultation?

A patient is likely to have many questions about the procedure itself. Most specialists will encourage the patient to ask as many questions as they deem necessary to obtain clarification before making an informed consent decision to proceed with the intervention.

Here are some of the questions a patient might want to ask:

• What pain, swelling, and bruising can I expect after liposuction?
• Which liposuction technique do you recommend and why?
• What is the best way to treat them after the operation?
• What will be the duration of the recovery from liposuction ?
• Will stitches, bandages, and dressings be used? How long will they need to stay in place? How often will they need to be changed? Will the stitches used need to be removed? If so, when?
• How important is scarring? Are there ways to minimize it?
• What is the probability of complications during or after the operation? What can be done to minimize or prevent them?
• What is the probability that a follow-up procedure will be necessary (due to complications encountered)?
• Should the medications I am currently taking be stopped or changed before the procedure?
• How will my return to work go? exercise after my liposuction ?

It is also wise to get a clear idea of ​​the costs involved. These costs will cover the doctor's fees. Stéphane SMarrito, from the anesthesiologist and the La Prairie clinic, as well as the medications, dressings and supportive clothing used. 

Liposuction – from Dr.'s point of view Smarrito...

Before I authorize a person to undergo liposuction, I would ensure I obtain a complete medical file (including medical history and associated treatments, previous surgical procedures, and medication use).

Doctor Stéphane Smarrito The doctor will carefully assess any potential risk factors related to pulmonary, cerebrovascular, or cardiovascular problems (both personal and family history), drug interactions (including any known adverse reactions to anesthesia or drug allergies), and any other potentially known allergies. The patient should mention any history of seizures, chest pain or angina, heart attack, heart failure, or liver dysfunction. If previous surgeries are relevant, the doctor will also review them. Stéphane Smarritomay ask questions about scars and their severity (for example, to determine the quality of healing of incision scars).
It is important to provide as much detail as possible about your medical history and medications during the consultation. In some cases, this may impact a person's ability to undergo surgery, but in most cases, the information provided can help the surgeon plan a procedure with the fewest possible potential risk factors for complications. 

Doctor Stéphane Smarritomay wish to ask questions in order to define the necessary details:
• Details regarding the changes the patient wishes to make to their body.
• The current weight and the duration for which the person has maintained this weight.
• If significant weight gains or losses have been achieved recently.
• Current eating habits and physical activity programs, including the total duration of their maintenance.
• Use of medications or dietary supplements specifically intended for weight loss (if applicable).

The possibility of prior liposuction.

The medical examination is usually followed by a physical examination (which assesses the patient's overall health and the areas to be treated with liposuction). During the examination, the surgeon assesses the thickness of the adipose tissue (i.e., the layer of fat) in the areas to be treated. A pinch test can help the surgeon estimate how much fat can be safely removed. To perform the pinch test, the surgeon selects an area of ​​the body to be treated and pinches the skin between their thumb and forefinger. The width of the skin between the fingers should be at least 2 cm (or 1 inch) to realistically expect a visual improvement following the procedure. The only exceptions to this rule are the face and neck, for which the pinch test measurement may not provide a precise indication.
If the abdominal region is a part of the body targeted for liposuction, the surgeon will carefully consider the volume of intra-abdominal fat (visceral fat or organ fat), as well as the risk of hernia formation.
The surgeon will also check the skin's elasticity during the examination. They will look for a satisfactory level of intrinsic elasticity (and may assess this by manually stretching the skin).
Skin with a certain degree of natural elasticity is more likely to contract favorably after fat harvesting and the completion of the healing process. The surgeon will be attentive to any signs of loss of elasticity, such as the appearance of stretch marks or delayed rebound (retraction) of the skin after physical stretching.
During the skin assessment, the surgeon will note whether multiple procedures are necessary to effectively correct problem areas. Excess skin (sagging) can be corrected with procedures such as a thigh lift or abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Secondary procedures may be recommended because it is quite possible that the harvested fat could accentuate the skin redundancy and lead to the formation of fibrovascular tissue (known as pannus). Secondary procedures may be recommended if the surgeon determines they are beneficial in preventing dissatisfaction due to abnormalities or irregularities in the skin's contour or structure.

The Doctor's Message stéphane SMARRITO

Article written by the Doctor Stéphane Smarrito liposuction specialist