A Clinic dedicated to the highest standards

Dr. Bernier's private clinic is equipped with one of the most modern operating and recovery facilities anywhere. The latter complies with the standards set by the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (CAAASF). Furthermore, since the Clinic specializes in aesthetic and plastic surgery, outstanding medical care can be offered to its patients.

Superior quality equipment

The state-of-the-art medical and surgical equipment found in Dr. Bernier's Clinic meets the needs of high-calibre plastic and aesthetic surgery.

Every plastic surgeon's ultimate dream is to be able to whisk away all traces of surgery or scarring with a magic wand. At present, their wish has partly become true thanks to endoscopy.

Endoscopy consists in making a small incision several millimetres long through which surgical instruments and a minuscule camera are inserted. The camera then transmits an enlarged image of the body's internal structures to a monitor, enabling the surgeon to see clearly on screen the work he is performing. Thus, long incisions for a direct view are no longer necessary. Aesthetic surgery performed with endoscopes at Dr. Bernier's Clinic include forehead lifts, breast augmentations and tummy tucks (abdominoplasty).

For several years now, ultrasound has been commonly used in the medical profession. It is used in opthalmology for cataract surgery, in neurosurgery for brain tumour resection, and in general surgery for hepatic tumor resection. In 1988, Dr. Michele Zocchi, a famous Italian plastic surgeon, extended the scope of this technology by developing ultrasonic liposuction. Since then, several devices have been developed, tested and improved. Dr. Bernier was the first Canadian plastic surgeon to perform liposuction in 1997 by using this instrument. He is convinced of the many advantages of this technology.

In November 1998, Dr. Michele Zocchi associated himself with Dr. Mario F. Bernier to conduct a training seminar on ultrasonic liposuction. The surgery involving ultrasonic liposuction was performed at Dr. Bernier's Clinic for a live transmission before a group of about one hundred plastic surgeons gathered in a downtown Montreal hotel.

In ultrasonic liposuction, fatty deposits are liquefied or emulsified using a cannula that emits ultrasound waves from its tip. These waves are directed toward the fat cells and transform them into oil. The liquid fat is then vacuumed under low pressure. The cannula is inserted in the same way as in conventional technique. The incision is only several millimetres long and hidden in a natural body crease. Ultrasonic liposuction has a significant advantage over the traditional method. A number of studies suggest that, compared to conventional operations, blood loss can be reduced between 30% and 50%. From a clinical viewpoint, Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction causes less bruising and a reduced risk of skin irregularities, while producing a higher quantity of liposuctioned fat.

For a better appreciation and preview of the possible results to be obtained from the planned surgery, computer-assisted imaging is second to none. First, Dr. Bernier enters the patient's digitized photos in the computer. Then, he modifies these images to show on screen the attainable post-operative result. This new technology serves as an indispensable communication tool between patient and surgeon. In fact, during this session, you become more readily aware of the different possibilities and limits of the surgery being considered. By the same occasion, you also have the opportunity to clearly communicate your expectations to Dr. Bernier.