subject: What Is Back Liposuction? [print this page] What Is Back Liposuction? What Is Back Liposuction?
Back liposuction, also known as back scooping or back sculpting, is a form of cosmetic surgery that involves the removal of excess fat from various areas of a person's back. Patients who undergo this minimally invasive and low-risk cosmetic procedure do so in an attempt to achieve a better appearance of the back.
Many patients choose back liposuction as a way to eliminate extra fat around their lower back and midsection, reducing the size of their love handles or muffin tops. Doing so can help give the lower back a more concave and toned appearance and help clothes fit better. Other popular areas of the back include:
Mid-upper back area below the neck (hump)
Posterior axillary areas located below the shoulder and near the armpit
Infrascapular regions located below the shoulder blades and under the bra strap
Lumbosacral region located in the middle of the lower back and above the tailbone.
In addition to giving the lower back a more slender appearance, back liposuction can reduce a patient's waist size by removing excess fat around the mid and side portions of the lower back. Because abdominal tissue tends to be more fibrous and harder to remove, liposuction of the back can be a safer and easier way for thinner patients to sculpt their waistlines.
The Difference between Back Liposuction and Traditional Liposuction: Liposuction of the back utilizes a technique called micro liposuction, which involves smaller incisions than traditional liposuction procedures. As a result, patients experience less scarring and shorter recovery periods. A person who undergoes micro liposuction can usually return to work within one week of having the procedure and achieve a full recovery within two weeks.
Typical Patient: Although some people might think that liposuction is only for overweight patients, many people who seek back liposuction are thin.
It is not uncommon for the excess fat around the mid-sections of our bodies to be stubborn and difficult to reduce through exercise and diet. Liposuction helps to treat these areas by removing the excess fat and fat cells. Both physically fit and overweight individuals can be candidates for the procedure.
Risks and Side Effects of Back Liposuction: Generally speaking, most forms of liposuction carry minimal risks. Infection is usually the main concern, although the risk is usually low with proper wound care. Common side effects include:
Bleeding
Pain and tenderness
Bruising
Swelling
Costs:The cost of liposuction of the back depends heavily on how many areas are included in the procedure. Average costs typically fall in the range of $2,000 to $4,000.
To learn more about back liposuction and whether or not it's right for you, it's best to discuss the details of the procedure and its associated benefits and risks with a board-certified plastic surgeon. To find such a surgeon, contact the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
