It's a job that can change every day, but its specific nature remains technical. We offer surgical solutions to aesthetic concerns or issues related to malformations. There are no "rules": whether these defects are visible or not, what matters is that they cause patients to feel self-conscious.
These defects may therefore be abnormal (asymmetries, hypertrophies, losses, excesses) or cause concern, even if they are not abnormal, because they do not fit within the aesthetic framework of the patients' criteria for beauty.
I tend to see my job as that of a body repairer: when people are unhappy with their appearance and need help, they call on me to change aspects of their body, a bit like car parts, if I may use that expression.
It is therefore primarily a very manual profession, more technical than scientific. That is why it is important to be at the forefront of the latest innovations.
What really sparked my interest in the profession was when I saw a documentary about the daily lives of surgeons. I must have been 8 years old. It was love at first sight.
I remember thinking to myself how incredible it was to work with living matter, to discover the hidden aspects of the human body. It was like another world opening up to me: I felt like Alice in Wonderland.
This work on the body led to another highly mysterious question: what exactly is life?
For me, understanding how the body works (again, a bit like a car!) is already a first step toward answering this question.
And of course, there is the aspect of healing behind it: it is not a neutral discovery of the human body; it is an act that will heal the body, and will therefore be extremely beneficial.
I also loved playing Doctor Maboul, maybe that's where it all started!
I began my studies at medical school between 1992 and 1994. After those first few years, I switched to a preparatory course in political science, another field that greatly appealed to me—and which seemed less theoretical and cold than medicine. In the end, I missed it and quickly returned.
I studied medicine for six years—but with the goal of becoming a surgeon, which would require another six years of study to specialize. Since I did pretty well on my residency exams, I was able to stay in Paris and operate in the surgical departments.
What I initially wanted to do was help people overcome their complexes. I quickly became interested in fatty tissue. At the time, people were talking about fat transfer—what is known as lipofilling. This led me to work on stem cells: fat cells are fascinating because they can produce different types of growth. They can help repair the body. Simply put, fat cells are like mini surgeons.
So, in 2012, I purchased a BodyJet: it's an incredible machine that allows fat to be transferred in a completely safe manner. It's actually very useful for treating lipedema. Gradually, patients started coming to me with this problem, knowing that I had this expertise.
So I started working extensively on WAL liposuction, which is both highly aesthetic and functional. What particularly excited me was that this surgery goes beyond appearances and other "ordinary" complexes. It is a surgery that can actually reduce physical suffering, which is a novelty in this field.
The term stands for "Water Assisted Liposuction." It works a bit like a pressure washer: as if a lot of water were cleaning the wall under pressure. In fact, the water here is "injected" into the "diseased" fat and causes it to move with the suction.
It is a very effective method, but still rarely used in France. Few surgeons have invested in this technology.
It's an adventure, a challenge, which involves a lot of soul-searching, learning every day, and constant discoveries. You have to adapt to all kinds of new techniques.
There is also a lesser-known aspect, that of teamwork. We learn every day from our colleagues: there is an aspect of collegial work, where we draw inspiration from others.
Finally, what also motivates me is the concentration, finesse, and precision that the work requires. I have to surpass myself, day after day.
Well, if I had to choose one disadvantage: you can't hold a grudge.
What I mean by that is that surgery involves difficult procedures, long and painful operations. They are stressful: sometimes there are complications, but of course you can never give up. You have to find a solution, whatever the cost, and right away.
You have to be physically and mentally strong to keep your cool during these procedures, which are performed on a living being who trusts us—let's not forget that!
So, as soon as you leave the operating room, you have to be able to forget those moments. You have to focus on the satisfaction, the sense of accomplishment, and be ready to go back the next day. You have to manage the pressure completely—it must never become harmful to the patient.
I would advise him to be sure he can accept the disadvantages mentioned above. He must also be willing to work with blood because he will see a lot of it, and sometimes get it on himself.
If he feels that his motivation is strong, that he has a desire to put himself to the test every day, then he must not give up. He must keep in mind the goal of accomplishing his duty. It is long and tedious, but incredibly rewarding.
And in any case, he will need to combine determination, courage, and character. That is what will help him to be as effective and healthy as possible in his approach to work.