Cosmetic surgery at a glance
- Areas5
- Procedures29
- Duration30 min to 6 hours
- Hospital stayDay surgery to 3 nights
- Cooling-off periodAt least 15 days
- Prices€1,500 to €15,000
Cosmetic surgery changes the appearance of the face or body at the patient’s request; reconstructive surgery corrects a malformation, the after-effects of an illness or a functional problem. Dr Victor Médard de Chardon, a qualified plastic surgeon specialising in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, performs twenty-nine procedures in five areas. He sees patients at 101 rue d’Antibes and operates at Clinique Oxford in Cannes; procedures last from 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the operation, as day surgery (home the same day) or with a stay of 1 to 3 nights.
Prices: €1,500 to €15,000 depending on the procedure, on a written quote after a consultation (€100); some reconstructive procedures are covered by French national health insurance (Assurance Maladie).
The procedures
Face surgery
Facelift, Blepharoplasty, Rhinoplasty, Genioplasty
Facelift, eyelids, nose, chin, ears and volume: eight facial procedures, chosen at consultation according to your face and what you are looking for.
Breast surgery
Breast augmentation, Breast implant replacement, Breast fat transfer, Breast lift (mastopexy)
Breast augmentation, lift, reduction, reconstruction and malformations, in women and in men alike: nine procedures, chosen in consultation according to your build.
Body surgery
HD liposuction, Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), Body lift, Brazilian butt lift (BBL, buttock fat transfer)
Liposuction, abdominoplasty, body lift, arm and thigh lifts, buttocks and calves: eight procedures to reshape your figure, chosen at the consultation.
Scalp surgery
Cutis verticis gyrata, Hairline advancement (hairline lowering)
Reducing a high forehead by lowering the hairline, or smoothing out the folds of the scalp in cutis verticis gyrata: two one-hour procedures.
Female intimate surgery
Labiaplasty (labia minora reduction), Labia majora fat transfer
Labiaplasty (labia minora reduction) and labia majora fat transfer: two procedures to improve the appearance and comfort of the vulva, as day surgery.
The five areas at a glance
Figures taken from the pages for each area and each procedure.
| Area | Procedures | Duration | Hospital stay | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Face | Facelift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, genioplasty, otoplasty, implants, facial fat grafting, buccal fat removal | 30 min to 4 hours | Day surgery or 1 night | €1,500 to €15,000 |
| Breasts | Augmentation, fat transfer, lift, reduction, inverted nipples, tuberous breasts, Poland syndrome, reconstruction, gynaecomastia | 30 min to 4 hours | Day surgery or, most often, 1 night | €2,500 to €10,000 for cosmetic procedures |
| Body | Liposuction, abdominoplasty, body lift, buttock fat transfer, arm and thigh lifts, calf implants, Hyacorp | 30 min to 6 hours | Day surgery to 3 nights | €2,500 to €15,000 |
| Scalp | Hairline advancement, cutis verticis gyrata | 1 hour | Day surgery or 1 night | €2,900 to €7,000 |
| Intimate | Labiaplasty, labia majora fat transfer | 45 min | Day surgery | From €2,500 |
Cosmetic surgery or reconstructive surgery?
Both are branches of plastic surgery, from the Greek plastikê, “the art of modelling”. Cosmetic surgery is not reimbursed; reconstructive surgery may be covered by the Assurance Maladie, usually after prior approval. Dr Médard de Chardon practises in Sector 2 (fees above the national health insurance rate): additional fees remain payable.
| Procedure | Possible cover |
|---|---|
| Breast reduction | If at least 300 g is removed per breast |
| Tuberous breasts, Poland syndrome | After approval by the Assurance Maladie medical adviser |
| Breast reconstruction | After breast cancer, together with the mutuelle (top-up health insurance) |
| Inverted nipples, true gynaecomastia | Yes |
| Functional rhinoplasty | The functional part, with prior approval |
| Body lift, arm lift or thigh lift | After a request for prior approval, if the criteria are met |
| Abdominoplasty | In part, if the abdominal apron covers the pubis |
| Cutis verticis gyrata | Yes (a disease of the scalp) |
Surgery or aesthetic medicine?
Surgery provides a lasting correction of laxity or shape: a face and neck lift lasts 4 to 12 years, and a rhinoplasty is permanent. Aesthetic medicine corrects without an incision and usually without social downtime, but its effect is temporary: 2 to 6 months for Botox, 8 to 24 months for hyaluronic acid. Dr Médard de Chardon practises both and suggests surgery when injections are not enough.
How should you prepare for cosmetic surgery?
The instructions common to all procedures are set out on the Preparing for your surgery page:
- a cooling-off period of at least 15 days between receiving the quote and the operation;
- an anaesthetic consultation at least 48 hours beforehand;
- stopping smoking at least one month before and one month after, ideally 6 to 8 weeks before (see why you should stop smoking);
- stopping the combined (oestrogen-progestogen) pill 4 to 6 weeks before long or extensive procedures;
- fasting for 6 hours for solids and 2 hours for clear liquids.
How does cosmetic surgery take place?
- ConsultationAt the practice, 101 rue d’Antibes, Cannes (€100, free for an existing patient): examination, choice of procedure, photographs.
- Quote and cooling-off periodAt least 15 days between receiving the quote and the operation.
- Anaesthetic consultationWith an anaesthetist (anaesthesia and intensive care specialist) at Clinique Oxford, at least 48 hours beforehand; it is valid for 1 month.
- OperationAt Clinique Oxford in Cannes, as day surgery or with 1 to 3 nights depending on the procedure.
- Follow-upDr Médard de Chardon sees you again at the practice; follow-up consultations are free of charge.
Who is Dr Médard de Chardon?
A qualified plastic surgeon specialising in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, trained at Nice University Hospital, he has been in exclusively private practice in Cannes since January 2011. See his page and how to choose your cosmetic surgeon.
- Gold Medal of the Nice Hospitals; ranked first in his year of surgical residency in Nice;
- former Chef de Clinique (university hospital senior registrar) at the University of Nice;
- more than 8,000 surgical procedures and more than 18,000 injections performed;
- member of SOFCEP (French Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) and the Rhinoplasty Society of Europe (RSE).
Before and after photos
More than 200 cases, published with the patients’ consent (nude photos are blurred by default), sorted by area and by procedure: see the before and after photos.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery?
Cosmetic surgery changes the appearance at the patient’s request; reconstructive surgery corrects a malformation, the after-effects of an illness or a functional problem. Both come under plastic surgery.
Is cosmetic surgery reimbursed?
No. Some reconstructive procedures may be, usually after prior approval: for example, breast reduction of more than 300 g per breast, tuberous breasts, reconstruction after cancer, functional rhinoplasty, or a body lift after major weight loss.
How much does cosmetic surgery cost in Cannes?
€1,500 to €15,000 depending on the procedure, on a written quote after the consultation, which is charged at €100 (free for an existing patient). The price of each procedure is given on its page.
What is the cooling-off period in cosmetic surgery?
At least 15 days must pass between receiving the quote and the operation. This gives you time to think, to ask questions and, if needed, to see the surgeon again.
Where do the consultation and the cosmetic surgery take place?
Consultations take place at the practice, 101 rue d’Antibes, Cannes, Monday to Friday. Operations take place at Clinique Oxford in Cannes.
Do I need to stop smoking before cosmetic surgery?
Yes: at least one month before and one month after the operation, ideally 6 to 8 weeks before. Smoking increases the risk of healing problems, infection and phlebitis.
Can several cosmetic procedures be combined?
Yes, when possible: for example, rhinoplasty and genioplasty, breast lift and implants, or abdominoplasty and liposuction. The plan is decided at consultation.
Does Dr Médard de Chardon see patients in English?
Yes. He consults in French and in English, and the whole team at the practice speaks English.