Slimming the silhouette

Slimming the silhouette involves locally reducing volumes or restoring more harmonious body contours. This is a frequent and legitimate concern related to natural variations in weight, fat distribution and skin tone. Every body shape, age and skin type is different: what works for one person may not work for another. Solutions must be tailored and discussed during a personalised consultation with Pr Ignacio Garrido.

Several factors can explain a silhouette perceived as less harmonious:

• Natural and genetic factors: certain areas are predisposed to storing fat (saddlebags, hips, abdomen).
• Ageing and weight fluctuations: loss of muscle tone, skin laxity and redistribution of fat over the years.
• Pregnancy and post-partum: changes to the skin and subcutaneous tissues.
• Lifestyle: diet, physical activity, stress and sleep quality all influence body composition.
• Local factors such as cellulite or fibrosed volumes that alter appearance.

These phenomena are common and evolve over time. The medical objective is to improve volume harmony while respecting physiology and patient safety.

Possible solutions

Depending on the cause and the patient's wishes, several options may be considered. Two broad categories of management exist: aesthetic medicine and aesthetic surgery.

Aesthetic medicine

• Cryolipolysis (localised cooling): non-invasive treatment designed to reduce small to medium areas of resistant fat by exposing the area to controlled cold.
• Lipolytic injections or targeted mesotherapy: micro-injections aimed at improving texture and reducing small fat deposits or cellulite (technique tailored and discussed in consultation).
• Radiofrequency and focused ultrasound protocols: methods aimed at stimulating collagen, promoting skin firmness and contributing to body contouring without incision.

Aesthetic surgery

• Liposuction (lipoaspiration): aspiration of localised fat excess to reshape body contours. It targets fat deposits but is not a general treatment for obesity.
• Lipofilling (fat autograft): fat harvested from one area and reinjected into another to harmonise volumes (e.g. reshaping the buttocks or hips).
• Body lift or abdominoplasty: procedures designed to remove excess skin and tighten tissues when skin laxity is significant (often after major weight loss).

Personalising the treatment plan is essential: sometimes a combination of non-surgical and surgical techniques achieves a more harmonious result while respecting the patient's expectations.

Management pathway

• Initial consultation: overall assessment of the silhouette, examination of the areas concerned, review of medical history and discussion of goals and constraints.
• Tailored plan proposal: explanation of possible options, expected benefits, limitations and risks specific to each procedure.
• Safety and preparation: information on pre-operative precautions (possible medication adjustments, blood tests if necessary).
• Progressive implementation: depending on the chosen solution, a treatment protocol and post-procedure follow-up are defined. Safety, dialogue and gradual steps are integral to the care pathway.

Expected results and follow-up

• Realistic goals: the aim is to improve body harmony and the proportion of volumes while maintaining a natural appearance. Results vary by technique, age, skin quality and individual characteristics.
• Variability of results: some methods produce visible improvements quickly, others require multiple sessions or time to fully express their effect.
• Follow-up: check-up appointments, lifestyle maintenance advice (physical activity, healthy habits) and, if needed, complementary treatments or touch-ups. Long-term maintenance may be recommended to preserve the benefits.

Frequently asked questions

Are results immediate? Some procedures show rapid improvements (e.g. liposuction), but the final result may stabilise over several weeks to months depending on the technique and resolution of oedema.

Is there a non-surgical alternative? Yes: cryolipolysis, radiofrequency, ultrasound and certain injection protocols can offer improvements without incision. Their efficacy and indication are assessed during consultation.

How long before returning to activities? The timeframe depends on the procedure: non-invasive procedures generally require little or no downtime, while surgical procedures may require rest and a gradual return depending on the extent of the procedure.