Back Lift

A back lift is a procedure that restores aesthetically attractive contours to the upper, middle, and/or lower back. Since the surgery removes both excess skin and fat, it is an ideal cosmetic procedure for those who have lost a significant amount of weight. It is also an option for those who are genetically predisposed to gaining fat in this area. In the upper back, this manifests as unsightly folds underneath the bra straps. Alternatively, fat buildup occurs in the lower back and contributes to a “muffin top”.

If you have loose, unflattering tissue on your back, a back lift can promote a smooth silhouette and boost your self-confidence. Are you ready to look great in clothes and swimwear again? Consider booking a consultation with Dr. Dalia Tobbia, an award-winning plastic and reconstructive surgeon located in Hamburg. Dr. Tobbia utilizes both her extensive knowledge in the field of surgical research and artistic vision to promote excellent results for back lift patients. To get in touch with her practice, Plastische Chirurgie am Klosterstern, call +49 40 46 091 076 or use her contact form available online. Her staff will readily assist you in addressing your inquiries and concerns. 

About the Back Lift

The concept of a back lift procedure is to reshape and tighten the back with a variety of techniques adapted to each patient. Back lifts frequently involve a combination of excess skin removal and liposuction to create a sleek back contour. Liposuction is a minimally invasive fat elimination procedure that requires a slim cannula and a few tiny, discreet incisions of only a couple of millimeters. The incisions used to excise your loose, extra skin are made in a location where they are well-concealed within the bra line. For patients who have only a modest amount of fat buildup and good skin quality, liposuction alone to targeted areas may be enough to achieve the desired results.

Candidates for a Back Lift

You are a good candidate for back lift if you have loose, sagging skin along your back or bra line, are in good health, and are free from pre-existing conditions that impact your ability to heal after surgery. Back lift candidates should have positive, realistic expectations of the outcomes achievable with cosmetic surgery. Candidates who smoke should discontinue smoking 2 weeks prior to and 2 weeks following their back lift surgery. Nicotine in cigarettes and other products constricts blood circulation, leads to slow healing, and increases your risk of complications. 

Advice & Treatment

A consultation with Dr. Tobbia will help clear up any concerns about whether or not the back lift procedure is right for you. Dr. Tobbia will make sure to carefully evaluate your skin quality and other anatomical features of your back to determine the best surgical approach for your unique aesthetic desires. With this insight, she will form a customized treatment plan and explain her ideas with easy-to-comprehend diagrams explaining each procedure step. In addition, she will review surgical limitations and possible health risks. Finally, she will take photos of your back as a reference needed to perform the best outcome. During this appointment, you will also be able to ask any remaining questions about the process.

Call her practice in Hamburg at +49 40 46 091 076 or tell us more about you through our contact form. A member of our team will help you with the scheduling process. 

Preparation

Finally, if you are taking any supplements or medications that cause the blood to thin, be sure to stop a couple of weeks prior to your appointment. These can significantly increase your risk of excessive bleeding or bruising. During the preparation process, Dr. Tobbia will order blood tests to check your health status. 

Procedure Options

Prior to choosing a procedure method, Dr. Tobbia will first assess the degree of laxity of the skin and how much fat is present. “Back rolls” are classified between grades I and IV: 

After determining the grading of this laxity and/or fat buildup, Dr. Tobbia can implement the right combination of skin excision and liposuction. In addition to the nature of the tissue itself, the location is a determining factor:

Bra-Line Back Lift

For a bra-line back lift, Dr. Tobbia will sculpt the area of the back between the armpits to the top of the waist. The fat in this area bulges and folds when the back straps of a bra push on the tissue. For this technique, she will ask you to wear your most revealing bra and create markings along the bra line so that any bra strap can easily hide your scar. After the anesthesiologist administers general anesthesia to you, Dr. Tobbia will begin to cut the skin in this area and strategically remove fat deposits. Since the most narrow point of skin removal is at the center of the back, the removal resembles butterfly wings. Finally, she will suture the skin together and treat it with an adhesive substance or tape. If surgical tape is utilized, it is configured in such a way that accommodates any swelling that may occur. ⁽²⁾

Vertical Back Lift

For a vertical back lift, also known as a vertical torsoplasty, Dr. Tobbia will make one elliptical incision for each side of the torso- from the armpits to the top of the hips. While this technique is designed to contour the waist, it also eliminates excess fat on the flanks and the sides of the upper back.

Lower Back Lift

A lower back lift is similar to a bra-line back lift since Dr. Tobbia conducts all necessary cosmetic changes through one horizontal incision. The waistband of underwear or a bathing suit can easily cover the healed scar.

Recovery and Results

Depending on how comprehensive your back lift is, you will need to take somewhere between 1 to 2 weeks off from work to rest and heal. For a bra-line back lift, you may need only 7 to 10 days until you can return to work, but the other procedures tend to require more time. For the first few days, you may experience bruising, swelling, discomfort and numbness, but Dr. Tobbia will provide you with the necessary medications to prevent infection and keep you comfortable.

You will also have surgical drains along your incision lines that will allow fluid to exit and effectively reduce swelling. Sometimes, these drains remain in place for up to 10 days to prevent complications.

Dr. Tobbia will give you thorough instructions on how to care for your incision/s and keep them clean. Even after your incisions have fully healed, you will need to take extra time before you can work out. Most patients fully heal by 6 weeks; Dr. Tobbia will take care to evaluate your healing process before allowing you to return to more physical activities. By the time you reach 6 months post-procedure, your back and all surrounding areas will no longer have any residual swelling, and you will be able to enjoy your final results.

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures

Liposuction

Sometimes, only liposuction is required to sculpt away minor fat deposits that are bothersome to some patients. If you have good skin elasticity, you may choose between tumescent liposuction or ultrasound-assisted liposuction. Tumescent liposuction is the standard procedure for minimally invasive fat removal. For this method, Dr. Tobbia will inject tumescent fluid into the fatty areas of your back in order to numb the tissues and expand the fat. Then, with a thin device called a cannula, she will collect the fat, effectively reducing stubborn bulges. 

With the ultrasound-assisted method, she will use both tumescent fluid and a probe that emits ultrasound and breaks apart the fat. This form of liposuction has been proven to significantly reduce post-procedure bruising and discomfort. ⁽³⁾ Though liposuction isn’t for everyone, many patients enjoy the fact that it can be performed with local anesthesia, and the scars are extremely small and subtle. 

Cost of a Back Lift in Hamburg

The cost of your back lift is highly dependent on the extent of the surgery, the anesthesia fees, follow-up appointments, and other fees that will help promote a safe recovery. Dr. Tobbia will determine your total cost at the time of your personal consultation. At Plastische Chirurgie am Klosterstern, we welcome you to inform yourself of other procedures to consider by reading through our blog. Alternatively, you can call us at +49 40 46 091 076 or use our contact form to take the first step today. 

References

1. Thomas M, Dsilva JA. Grading of “Back Rolls”: Guide to Treatment Options. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2021;9(10):e3827. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000003827 
2. Hunstad J, Chen C, Abbed T. Bra-Line Back Lift. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2019;46(1):77-84. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cps.2018.08.010
3. Ruff PG, Garcia O, Nykiel M, Galanis CJ. Consensus-based Recommendations for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance Ultrasound-assisted Liposuction. Plastic and reconstructive surgery Global open. 2023;11(7):e5110-e5110. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000005110