High-definition liposuction (Lipo 4D)

Liposuction is a plastic surgery procedure that removes excess fat cells from one or more targeted areas of the body. Now very common, it is one of the most frequently performed procedures today. An evolution of this technique, high-definition liposuction goes further by redrawing the underlying muscle definition. More precise, it makes it possible to refine the body contour and harmoniously redefine the targeted muscles or muscle groups. Discover everything you need to know about Lipo 4D, who it is for, how the procedure unfolds, and the recovery that follows this surgical procedure.

What is high-definition liposuction (lipo HD)?

Originating in Brazil, a country at the forefront of plastic surgery, high-definition liposuction permanently removes fat deposits in precise areas of the body. It is a method designed to redefine a patient’s body contour without drastically changing their body weight. It therefore goes further than liposuction and can, in a sense, be its culmination, for an even more convincing result and a sculpted, firmer body.

Like classic liposuction, high-definition liposuction is carried out using cannulas. These, however, are extremely fine, with an even more specialised tip for greater precision during the procedure. They can therefore extract smaller but more localised amounts of fat. This makes it possible to target the fat cells located between the various muscles safely, in order to make the muscle tissue stand out more and bring it closer to the skin layer. Lipo HD is therefore less traumatic than classic liposuction, given the smaller amount of fat cells to be extracted.

In many cases, this precision relies on an ultrasound technology called VASER (an English acronym for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance). Before suction, the ultrasound selectively liquefies the fat, which allows it to be removed with greater control while preserving the surrounding tissues (nerves, vessels, ligaments). The term « 4D » refers to the dynamic result that is sought: the sculpting takes into account the appearance of the muscles not only at rest, but also in motion, for a natural result from every angle.

Liposuction 360: what is lipo 360?

Liposuction 360, or lipo 360, refers to liposuction performed around the entire circumference of the midsection of the body, that is, all the way around the waist: the belly, the flanks (love handles) and the lower back. It is this « 360-degree » approach, rather than a single isolated area, that gives it its name. It is also known as circumferential liposuction.

By treating the waist all the way around rather than in one spot, lipo 360 markedly slims the waistline and enhances the « hourglass » effect of the body contour; the buttocks may even appear more shapely by contrast. Combined with high definition, it also makes it possible to redraw the muscle definition of the abdomen and back. When this precision is applied specifically to the abdominals to bring out the « six-pack », it is more precisely referred to as abdominal etching.

The principle of reducing fat mass through liposuction

The amount of fat cells present in each person’s body depends on several factors, including genetic predisposition, the amount of fat consumed and the person’s level of physical activity.

While not everyone is in the same boat, there is generally a more pronounced accumulation of fat cells from the age of 30 or 35 onwards. This is due in particular to a slowing of the metabolism, a more sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits and a lack of physical exercise.

With age, it can therefore become harder to achieve a slim, defined body contour, even for those who do regular physical activity. While classic liposuction allows people who feel uncomfortable with their bodies to regain a slimmer, more even body contour, it remains insufficient for those wishing to sculpt their body or who have small, localised fat deposits they find unbalanced. In this respect, the difference between liposuction and liposculpture lies precisely in this pursuit of definition rather than mere fat reduction.

Who is HD liposuction for?

Unlike classic liposuction, 4D liposuction is not really intended for people with large volumes of fat to remove. It is therefore aimed mostly at people wishing to perfect their body contour, and especially at athletes seeking aesthetic results. It is designed to improve the definition of certain muscles or muscle groups by removing stubborn fat cells that persist despite physical activity. In this respect, HD liposuction is therefore suited to regular athletes with a BMI (Body Mass Index) below 27 kg/m² and good skin quality.

HD liposuction is also intended for people with an absence of muscle line definition or with lipodystrophy (accumulation or loss of fatty tissue).

It removes precisely the fat cells concentrated between the muscles without affecting the surrounding tissues (nerves, ligaments, blood vessels). It thus brings out the muscles or muscle groups, revealing a more defined body contour with visible muscle definition.

This procedure is therefore particularly popular for sculpting and bringing out the abdominals, the pectorals or the arms alongside muscle work at the gym. High-definition liposuction is suitable for both men and women. The price of this procedure will vary depending on the number of areas to be treated and the amount of fat to be removed.

Which parts of the body can HD liposuction treat?

High-definition liposuction can be performed on all areas of the body and is therefore sometimes combined with lipo 360 when it treats the entire circumference of the waist. It is particularly suited to areas that hold on to fat cells despite a balanced diet and regular exercise. These include:

• The arms, particularly their posterior volume, which prevents good definition of the biceps and triceps.
• The belly, and specifically the abdominal region, which prevents definition of the abdominals (six-pack). This is referred to as abdominal etching to bring out the six-pack.
• The chest or the breast area, to sculpt the pectorals.
• The hips and the flanks (love handles).
• The lower back, to better define the curve and remove unwanted love handles.
• The thighs, on their inner and outer surfaces (saddlebags).
• The calves, ankles or knees, to reshape the legs.

It is also possible to reuse the suctioned fat by combining it with implants in combined procedures aimed at increasing the volume of certain parts of the body (mainly the breasts and buttocks). It can also be used to perform an autologous fat transfer to be reinjected into those same areas. This is referred to as buttock lipofilling (Brazilian butt lift), which allows the body contour to be changed without resorting to a foreign body.

How does the high-definition liposuction procedure unfold?

High-definition liposuction is most often performed under general anaesthesia. In some cases, however, and in agreement with the patient, it is possible to use local anaesthesia together with light intravenous sedation or an epidural to help the patient relax during the procedure. The procedure requires a hospital stay, which can nonetheless be done on a day-case basis, meaning the patient goes home the same evening.

Before the procedure

A first consultation is arranged, during which the patient sets out their wishes and can ask the surgeon any questions. This discussion makes it possible to determine whether this treatment can meet the patient’s expectations.

To this end, a physical examination is carried out, including measuring the patient’s height and weight, calculating their body mass, and assessing the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer in the areas concerned. The surgeon also assesses the quality of the patient’s skin.

If all the morphological criteria are met, the surgeon can then go into the details of the treatment and use a marker to outline the extent of the areas to be treated, with the patient standing, before checking them in a mirror. A treatment plan is then put in place once the areas to be treated have been clearly defined. Finally, the patient is given pre-operative instructions, including a ban on smoking for 3 weeks before and after the procedure.

The procedure in practice

In practice, HD liposuction begins in the same way as classic liposuction. After disinfection and sterile draping, the procedure starts with small 4 to 5 mm incisions made to insert fine cannulas to suction the fat in the determined areas.

It then continues with the use of even finer high-definition cannulas to suction fat cells more deeply. The surgeon then meticulously removes the fat deposits surrounding the muscles. The incisions are mainly made in the natural folds of the skin to avoid scars. The procedure ends with the suturing of the incisions using absorbable thread.

The procedure usually takes less time than classic liposuction and lasts between 1 and 3 hours, depending on the areas treated and the amount of fat to be extracted. A radiofrequency skin-tightening treatment such as Renuvion (J-Plasma) can, if needed, tighten the skin for an even more convincing result.

What is recovery like after an HD liposuction procedure?

Recovery from a Lipo 4D procedure is much lighter than after classic liposuction. Nonetheless, as with most plastic surgery procedures, the patient may notice bruising and discolouration on the treated areas in the days following the procedure. These marks fade fairly quickly after a few days (around ten at most).

A week off work for full recovery may be considered, although it is not necessarily required in most cases. Any mild pain can be treated with painkillers.

In addition, to maximise the effects of the liposuction, a special dressing must be worn for 7 days, along with a compression garment day and night (except for care and washing) on the treated areas immediately after the procedure, and for 30 to 45 days. Lymphatic drainage may also be carried out, as well as physiotherapy sessions (notably massage rolling) to reduce swelling after liposuction and help the skin redrape.

A follow-up appointment with the surgeon is carried out around ten days after the procedure to assess the effectiveness of the procedure and the resorption of the swelling.

The results therefore begin to become visible once the swelling has gone, after 3 to 4 weeks, and are final after 6 months, once the skin has fully retracted. To preserve this result over the long term, the patient must maintain a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle based on regular physical activity and a balanced diet.