There are a few different techniques for a back lift procedure. To lift the upper back, you have two options: a bra-line back lift, which leaves a horizontal scar along the bra line area, or a vertical back lift (or vertical torsoplasty), which leaves more discreet, vertical scars on either side of the torso.Â
A vertical torsoplasty can take four to five hours, while a bra-line back lift procedure is slightly shorter, lasting two to three hours.
“Usually, it's a trade-off between the better lift with a more visible scar versus not as good a lift and a more hidden scar,” says Beverly Hills, California, plastic surgeon Dr. J. Timothy Katzen.
Bra-line back lift surgery can improve the appearance of back rolls as well as the overall shape and contour of the upper back, mid-back, and waist. In this popular technique, the surgeon cuts a butterfly-shaped area of excess skin from the upper back, removing both fat and skin.Â
Depending on your anatomy, the incision will often extend around and under the breasts, to tighten up the lateral breast line, explains Dr. Herluf Lund, a plastic surgeon in Chesterfield, Missouri. The scar, which runs horizontally along the bra line, is harder to hide, but it may not be visible underneath a bra or bathing suit top.
A vertical back lift, also known as a vertical stealth back lift or vertical torsoplasty, involves vertical incisions from the armpits to the top of the hip bones and removal of an ellipse of excess side torso skin and fat. Skin can also be pulled from the upper abdomen, if you want an hourglass shape.
Once the incisions have healed and the scars have faded, they aren’t too noticeable when your arms are at your sides. "In addition, you could wear dresses with a low back without visible scars," says Dr. Katzen. If the incisions are planned appropriately, another benefit is that you get a slight breast lift.Â
The trade-offs: the body contouring results from a vertical lift aren't as dramatic as what you'd get with a bra line lift, plus there are two vertical scars instead of one horizontal scar.
Lower back lift surgery is typically combined with a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and butt lift, to improve the contour, size, and shape of the buttocks, as part of a lower body lift. “In my practice, we do lower back lifts more often than upper back,” says Dr. Ellen Janetzke, a plastic surgeon in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. “A combination of both is very common after massive weight loss.”Â
Your surgeon makes an incision low along your waistline—low enough that it won’t be visible when you're wearing underwear or a bikini—and removes excess skin and fat to give you a smooth contour before closing the incision.Â
Immediately after your surgery, you'll be taken to a recovery room where your vitals will be monitored as you wake up from the anesthesia.Â
You'll be groggy, so make sure you have a responsible adult there to make sure you get home safely and have everything you need for your initial recovery.
When you wake up, you'll be wearing a compression garment, to help reduce swelling, bruising, and scarring. Typically, patients are advised to wear compression garments 24/7 for the first 1–3 weeks. It's okay to take the garment off to bathe or wash it, but the more you wear compression during your initial recovery, the more effective it will be in facilitating the healing process.