Eliminating Back Fat Rolls with the New Bra-Line Back Lift

By Denise Mann; reviewed by Joseph P. Hunstad, M.D., F.A.C.S.

You exercise regularly, are back in your skinny jeans and arguably look the best you have looked in years (maybe even decades), but there’s one problem – that back fat roll or rolls above or below your bra-line. There rolls and bulges typically occur from aging, and as you are finding out, they can’t be exercised away.

Sound familiar? If so, a new bra-line back lift procedure that removes these unsightly bumps and bulges while hiding the scar under the bra-line may be just what the plastic surgeon ordered. A new study shows that it really works.

Introducing the Bra-line back lift

This surgery doesn’t remove back fat. Liposuction is still the No. 1 way to remove pockets of unwanted fat in any area of the body, including back fat. Ideal candidates for the bra-line back lift are those with sagging skin caused by aging, sun exposure or massive weight loss such as that which occurs after bariatric surgery.  While it is not for women only, men do not tend to develop sagging skin or back fat rolls from aging and sun exposure at the same rate as women do. Men may benefit from the new bra-line back lift if they have lost a significant amount of weight, but the fact that the scar may be hidden under a bra or bathing suit is not as much of a selling point for a man.

Key statistics for back lifts

More than 19,500 lower back lifts were performed in 2007, according to statistics compiled by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  Due to the novelty of the bra-line back lift procedure, statistics have not been compiled yet.

Research highlights on removing back rolls

A new study on the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found the bra-line back lift is a safe and effective way to get rid of back fat rolls and to contour the middle and upper back. The seven women in this study had minimal complications and were allowed to increase their activity levels about two weeks after surgery. What’s more, they all had only good things to say about the bra-line back lift. Seven women were included in the new study, but  the surgeons have completed the bra-line back lift on 20 patients to date.

Preparing for the bra-line back lift

Your surgeon will give you a list of instructions on what to do and what not to do in the days before you undergo the bra-line back lift. This may include guidelines on eating and drinking. He or she will also discuss the importance e of quitting smoking at least 30 days before bra-line back lift. Smoking greatly increases the risks of any surgery, and the  bra-line back lift is no exception.

Certain medications, such as aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may promote bleeding and should be discontinued before surgery. Your surgeon will advise you on which medications you should stop taking before the bra-line back lift. Never stop taking prescribed medications without first talking with your surgeon and with the doctor who prescribed them.

Before surgery, women are asked to sport a revealing swimsuit or bra. The surgeon will then mark up the area. These pre-operative markings outline the patient’s brassiere, as well as delineate the excess back tissue to be removed.

The surgeon will likely use general anesthesia.The actual surgery takes about an hour.

Here’s how it is done:

The surgeon cuts across the woman’s back and removes the excess folds or bulges of skin and then connects the remaining skin back together.

Benefits of the bra-line back lift

• Hidden bra-line scar
• Improved appearance
• Improved self esteem
• Immediate results

Risks of the bra-line back lift

• Scars across the back are present, but if this surgery is properly performed, there is only a fine line high-quality scar.
• Anesthesia risks
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Death

After the bra-line back lift

Sometimes surgical drains may be needed after the surgery to reduce swelling. Women can wear a bra or garment of their choice after the first week. Most women prefer a comfortable bra with a wide transverse strap in the first few weeks after surgery to remove back fat rolls.

After undergoing this surgery to remove back fat rolls, your plastic surgeon will tell you to avoid:

• Vigorous exercise
• Heavy lifting
• Excessive flexing from the waist and thorax (the area between the neck and the diaphragm)
• Raising your arms above your head
• Baths, Jacuzzis, swimming or submerging the surgical site under water. Showering is permitted 24 hours after surgery.

After two weeks, people who undergo the bra-line back lift can increase their activity levels if they are not feeling excessive tightness or discomfort.

Cost of the bra-line back lift

The bra-line back lift costs about $7,500 to $10,000. It is not usually covered by insurance as it is an elective, cosmetic procedure.

Choosing a board certified plastic surgeon

Since this is a new procedure choosing a plastic surgeon that has experience performing the bra-line back lift is the key to success and satisfaction. Surgeons with the most training include plastic surgeons who are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This assures they are up to date on the latest technologies and techniques.

About the Reviewer of This Article

Joseph P. Hunstad, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a pioneer of the Bra-Line Back Lift. He is the President of the Hunstad Center for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery PA in Charlotte, N.C.

Dr. Hunstad is the past President of the North Carolina Society of Plastic Surgeons, past President-Elect of the Lipoplasty Society of North America, and is on the Board of Directors of the Body Contour Research Foundation. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of the International Consortium of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, the International Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the North Carolina Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, the North Carolina Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the Mecklenburg County Medical Society.

Dr. Hunstad has published more than forty plastic surgery articles in the world literature concerning body contouring and facelifting and numerous chapters in plastic surgery textbooks. For more information on Dr. Hunstad, visit www.hunstadcenter.com

Source:
Hunstad JP. Repta R. Bra-line back lift, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2008, 122:1225-1228

[page updated October 2008]