Back Liposuction – Everything You Need to Know

Back liposuction is commonly requested by patients who want fat removed from the back area. Back fat is widely found in both women and men. Resistant areas of back fat often persist despite a healthy diet and exercise and may not improve with weight loss. Back fat can also appear as bra rolls and is particularly noticeable when women wear a bra or men wear certain types of trousers. Excessive fat in the back region can markedly reduce an individual’s self-confidence and often leads to restrictions on the types of clothing people may wear. Patients may avoid wearing fitted shirts and tops and may choose to wear loose T-shirts.

RELATED: Body Contouring Procedures – The Ultimate Guide

Surgery to remove back fat is highly effective in treating this very common problem. The most common procedure involves back fat liposuction to remove resistant pockets of fat using a specialised extraction cannula connected to vacuum suction to remove fat cells gently. The results of back liposuction include a sculpted and contoured appearance with no bulging areas of fat which protrude through clothes.

RELATED: How to Get Rid of Back Fat

How does back fat develop?

Patients develop back fat due to several potential causes. The most common reason for the development of excessive fat in the back or any other part of the body is due to a diet containing excessive calories and a sedentary lifestyle with no exercise. The most common types of foods which can increase the risk of developing excess back fat include highly sugary foods such as cakes and desserts, and also certain types of foods that can result in a bloated stomach, such as excessive quantities of carbohydrates, which include white bread.

Many people may be predisposed to developing excessive amounts of back fat due to hereditary factors. Women may develop excess fat in the back area whilst pregnant and may see this as difficult to shift after childbirth. Menopause can also change a woman’s body contours as a decline in oestrogen results in excessive amounts of fat affecting particular areas of the body, such as the middle section and the lower part of the back.

Although not recognised as contributing to the development of back fat, patients who have poor posture due to weak abdominal and back muscles may find that any back fat may appear more prominent.

What does back fat liposuction involve?

Liposuction is the most effective and permanent method of removing stubborn fat areas from the back. Liposuction of the back efficiently removes fat from all back parts, including the lower back, the middle part, and the upper area of the back, including the bra rolls.

The first stage of our patient journey at Centre for Surgery involves having a detailed face-to-face consultation with a highly experienced liposuction surgeon. As with all types of cosmetic surgery performed at our clinic, back lipo is a day-case procedure which means you get to go home the same day and recover in the comfort of your own home.

A general anaesthetic is most commonly used for most types of back liposuction. In a small number of cases, local anaesthetic may be sufficient, but in our experience, the procedure may be uncomfortable, and we, therefore, recommend general anaesthetic for virtually all cases. The procedure involves making several small incisions to permit access for the liposuction cannula into the areas which require fat removal. Incisions for liposuction are typically no more than 3 to 4 mm in length resulting in barely visible scars. The surgeon will move the cannula in her back-and-forth motion to gently extract fat cells. The most common type of liposuction involves the power-assisted technique. This technique uses specialised vibrating cannulas to gently detach fat cells from the surrounding connective tissue, resulting in less bruising and swelling and, therefore, a quicker liposuction recovery. This type of liposuction can also be combined with a fat transfer if you have fat grafting to the breasts or fat transfer to the buttocks. Many cases of back liposuction are performed as part of a 360 liposuction technique followed by gluteal fat transfer.

RELATED: Liposuction FAQs – Q&A about Fat Removal Surgery

Once the procedure is complete, the surgeon will gently massage any residual anaesthetic solution from the tissues, which will help reduce inflammation and discomfort in the post-operative period. Sterile dressings will then be applied. All patients will require a responsible adult escort to accompany them home and look after them for the first 24 to 48 hours after back fat removal surgery.

RELATED: Liposuction recovery top tips

We commonly get asked if fat returns to the area after liposuction to the back. Fat cells do not grow back after liposuction as long as you maintain a healthy body mass index. Patients can therefore look forward to having a toned and sculpted look for many years with healthy lifestyle habits.

After all types of liposuction, including the removal of back fat, patients will need to wear a post-operative compression garment for a minimum of six weeks. The liposuction compression garment is designed to support the liposuctioned area, which reduces swelling and facilitates proper skin retraction. The healing process can be optimised by following your surgeon’s post-operative instructions in full. Most patients typically recover quickly after back liposuction and can return to normal activities after six weeks. Your surgeon will review you at the six-week mark to monitor your healing and assess your results. Back fat liposuction results will be noticeable by six weeks, although final results are expected between 3 to 6 months after the procedure. It would help if you tried to avoid any weight fluctuations in the liposuction recovery period to make sure you get the best possible lipo results.

What can I expect from the procedure?

Liposuction for removing back fat is a straightforward surgical procedure and has the potential to give fantastic results for a significant improvement in self-confidence. Benefits of black liposuction include:

• An improvement in emotional well-being with a potential reduction in anxiety, depression and stress
• A toned look with an increased definition of the back musculature
• An improvement in self-confidence
• Freedom to wear a greater variety of clothing, including tight-fitting tops, sportswear and swimwear
• A back that looks much leaner without unsightly fat bulging
• Improved body contours

Who are the ideal candidates for the procedure?

Our surgeons will assess your fitness for surgery at your consultation and will consider the following patients as suitable:

• Patients who are at a stable weight and are not significantly overweight or obese
• Physically fit with no chronic medical conditions
• Have realistic expectations of what can be achieved with back lipo
• Have tried diet and exercise with no success in the removal of resistant back fat
• Are unhappy at the appearance of excessive back fat and bra rolls

Can liposuction be combined with other body contouring treatments?

Back fat and bra roll liposuction can be performed as part of a 360 liposuction procedure which involves fat removal from the entire midsection, including the abdomen, thanks and waste for incredible transformation in your body contours.

Liposuction can also easily be combined with other body contouring procedures, such as fat transfer. Fat transfer is a specialised type of cosmetic surgery involving the removal of excess fat from unwanted parts of the body and reinjection into areas such as the breasts or buttocks. Back fat lipo is commonly removed before being transferred to the breasts as part of a fat transfer breast augmentation procedure for women who would like to increase the size of their breasts naturally without the use of silicone implants.

Liposuction can also be combined with skin removal surgery. One of the most common types of body contouring procedures is an arm lift, also known as brachioplasty surgery. This procedure commonly involves a combination of liposuction to firstly remove excessive fat from the arms followed by removing loose skin to tighten the arms in patients unhappy with significant skin laxity giving rise to the appearance of ‘bingo wings’. Back fat removal combined with an arm lift is commonly used for patients who have lost significant amounts of weight and have been left with redundant skin. Liposuction alone is not an effective treatment for the removal of loose skin.

Buttock lift surgery to remove saggy buttocks can also be combined with back lift surgery although patients are often keen to improve the appearance of their buttocks by lifting and contouring the gluteal area. Buttock lift surgery involves the surgical removal of loose skin from the junction between the buttocks and the lower back. This procedure is commonly combined with liposuction to remove fat which can then be re-injected into the deflated buttocks to increase their volume and projection.

Many women are concerned about the appearance of dimpled skin or cellulite, which most commonly appears on the thighs and buttocks but may also be found on the back. Our surgeons are experts in using CelluTite, a radiofrequency device used to remove areas of pitted and dimpled skin for long-term treatment of cellulite. CelluTite involves surgical subcision to disrupt the fibrous bands which pull the skin inwards.

The best way to determine the appropriate treatment for you would be to have a face-to-face consultation with one of our expert body contouring surgeons to discuss your needs and preferences and ensure you have realistic expectations of what can be achieved after back fat removal surgery.

Why choose Centre for Surgery?

Centre for Surgery is renowned for having expertise in all types of liposuction, including back liposuction.

• Centre for Surgery carry out hundreds of liposuction procedures each year, including removing back fat.
• We are one of the leading cosmetic surgery clinics in London and the UK, with a solid reputation for delivering outstanding results.
• We specialise in using only the safest and most effective types of liposuction, including power-assisted liposuction, which does not carry the risk of skin burns, unlike laser liposuction and Vaser liposuction.
• Our anaesthetists are trained in total intravenous anaesthesia, resulting in a quicker post-operative recovery than traditional general anaesthesia.
• Our post-operative nursing team are highly experienced in managing patients who have had liposuction and offers around-the-clock assessment service.
• State of the art day-case facility is located on Baker Street in Marylebone.
• Our plastic surgeons have many years of experience using liposuction in combination with skin removal for powerful body contouring results.
• We are experts in fat transfer surgery and commonly combine back liposuction with Brazilian butt lift surgery and fat transfer to the breasts.

RELATED: Is liposuction worth it?

How much does back liposuction cost?

Liposuction for removing back fat starts from £3500, and the price will be determined by several factors, such as whether liposuction will be carried out from additional areas. If back lipo is combined with 360 liposuction, then the price of the procedure will increase.

360 liposuction starts from £6000 and is considered a highly effective procedure with a very high patient satisfaction rate. Back liposuction is one of the components of 360 liposuction.

We provide open and transparent lipo costs, which include a thorough consultation with a body contouring surgeon at our advanced day surgery facility in Marylebone. Our post-operative nursing team provides proactive nursing care and is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have. You will have your own dedicated patient coordinator to act as a point of contact throughout your patient journey with us. Our nurses will perform face-to-face pre-operative medical checks to ensure you are cleared for surgery. You will receive a 24-hour emergency number for your surgeon after your procedure. The final cost for back fat liposuction will be given once you have consulted with an expert surgeon. The price will also vary depending on whether the procedure is only under a general anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic.

Back liposuction, along with any other type of liposuction, is not available on the NHS and is not covered by private medical insurance. Patients will need to fund the procedure cost themselves or be assisted by one of the many finance plans, including 0% finance we offer in conjunction with Chrysalis Finance.

How can I reduce back fat without the need for surgery?

Getting rid of fat can be achieved by following a sensible diet and regular physical exercise, which may eliminate the need for liposuction in many cases.

Eating a balanced and healthy diet with increased amounts of fruit, vegetables, high-fibre foods, and lean protein sources such as poultry and eggs will help to get rid of back fat. You should try to avoid certain types of food items that contain large quantities of sugar, such as biscuits, cakes and sweets. Sweetened fizzy drinks should also be avoided; these simple interventions help reduce fat and lose weight. Alcohol is a common contributor to weight gain, and you should try to follow the NHS-recommended weekly limits on alcohol intake to optimise fat loss.

Combining healthy eating habits with regular physical exercise will have a synergistic effect and improve your rate of weight loss. Patients should try to carry out 30 minutes of exercise five days a week and cardiovascular exercise, which includes running, cycling and rowing. Any cardiovascular exercise should be combined with resistance exercises to help tone and contour the back muscles. Back fat can be effectively reduced by carrying out certain types of resistance exercises. Many patients benefit from carrying out shoulder press exercises to develop their shoulders and upper back area. This will help to shed any excessive back fat. The latissimus dorsi muscles can be toned by carrying out arm pull-down exercises using a dedicated machine in the gym or by using a tension band. The muscles can effectively tighten and help contour the back’s middle part. Certain types of flexibility exercises, such as bending to the sides, will also contribute to strengthening the muscles in the back and improving tone.

People with poor posture can help reduce this by carrying out the resistance exercises above and eating a healthy diet. Excessive slouching can weaken the back, leading to the extra prominence of back fat. Many women may be wearing poorly fitting bras, and this may accentuate the appearance of bra rolls just above or below the bra straps. Wearing a correctly fitting bra will help reduce the appearance of back fat.

We advise against many online-sourced products such as weight loss pills or supplements. Many of these products have no proof of treatment efficacy and, in some cases, may be dangerous to take.

Diet and exercise remain the most effective interventions to lose fat in the back area, but if back fat persists, body contouring surgery with liposuction can help get rid of stubborn fat deposits.

Liposuction of back