Am I suitable for a vertical back lift?

Hi Shirene, Thank you for your question regarding the vertical back lift. This is a difficult question to answer without pictures or a thorough physical examination. There are two different types of back lifts,  torsoplasties, or trunkplasties. There is the vertical torsoplasty and horizontal torsoplasty. During the vertical torsoplasty, an incision is made from the armpit to the top of the hip. An ellipse of excess side torso skin and fat is removed. This vertical torsoplasty scar is relatively hidden when the arms are at your size. Using a vertical torsoplasty, an hourglass figure can be created. The vertical torsoplasty can also pull skin from the upper abdomen. During a horizontal torsoplasty, an incision is made across the top of the back. Some plastic surgeons also call this an upper body lift or bra strap lift. A butterfly shaped area of excess upper back skin and fat is removed. This scar is more visible, but can usually be hidden under the bra or bikini top. If you were looking for a more hourglass figure, I would suggest a vertical torsoplasty. Vertical torsoplasties takes about 4 to 5 hours to perform. The horizontal torsoplasty takes about 3 to 4 hours to perform. Recovery after the vertical torsoplasty and horizontal torsoplasty is about two weeks. After massive weight loss, buttock implants are an excellent option for buttock augmentation. Buttock implant insertion can be performed at the same time as the vertical torsoplasty or horizontal torsoplasty.   However, I would not suggest inserting buttock implants at the same time as your breast surgery. The recovery position is very difficult. You cannot lay on your stomach due to the breast implants and you cannot lay on your back due to the buttock implants.  Therefore, the only position you can be is on your side.  I usually stage buttock implants and breast implants.  These procedures are performed about one month apart.   Good luck! I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the vertical torsoplasty, horizontal torsoplasty, bra strap lift, breast implants, and buttock implants.  Please seek a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in massive weight loss patients. They should be an expert in torsoplasties and have a wealth of pictures to prove it. If you have any further questions regarding the torsoplasty, buttock implants, breast implants, or plastic surgery after massive weight loss, please contact my office.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen.

I am not sure what you mean by a vertical back lift, but to remove the skin rolls on your back, an upper back lift with a bra line incision extending around to the inframammary fold breast lift incision will be a great option for you. I also think you would benefit more from a posterior mid-body lift more than buttock implants.

Congratulations on your impressive weight loss! A back lift can help to contour the back by removing excess skin. You will want to wait another few months before considering surgery since you just had your tummy tuck. I've included a video on plastic surgery after weight loss that I hope you find helpful.

Hello! Thank you for your question. Also congratulations on your weight loss!! 120lbs is awesome!! Anyway, surgical recommendations are based on three things: (1) your anatomy / the thing(s) that you’re concerned about; (2) your aesthetic goals; and (3) the ability of surgery to address your concerns and achieve your aesthetic goals. Without even one of those things (in this case pictures), it is not possible for anyone to provide any recommendations. You are correct that an upper back lift (in an appropriate patient) will improve the shape and contour of the upper back, mid back, and waist and will improve the appearance of back rolls in those areas. If you decide to pursue surgery, it’s very important that you find a surgeon whom you are comfortable with and trust and who evaluates you in-person and tailors an individualized treatment plan for you and your aesthetic goals. Best of luck!
Matthew A. DelMauro, M.D.

Many thanks for your query.Well done on losing 120lb!I see that you are concerned with your back folds, ha gong breasts and upper abdominal laxity.An upper body lift can improve all these - you have the breast lift with a transverse scar all round the upper abdomen hiding under your breasts.A buttock augment is not a good idea in the weight loss patient.Hope this is helpful.BestMark

Thank you for your question, you are a candidate to perform a back liposuction with a new method called vaser lipo which helps to retract the excess skin on your back without the need for surgery. You could decide between the implant of the buttocks or the implant of the breast, one of the 2 could be done at the same time as the liposuction of the back.If you have struggled with weight gain, and exercise and diet have not given you the dramatic transformation you would like, vaser lipo can help.
Vaser lipo uses precise, minimally invasive liposuction technology that produces eye-catching results in a single procedure, this technology offers many advantages compared to traditional liposuction treatments.
The procedure is selective in tissue, directed at fat, but protects other tissues from damage. It is powerful enough to remove substantial areas of fat, but soft enough to treat delicate areas such as the neck and arms.
Vaser lipo is clinically proven to produce even results in the treated areas, leaving your skin soft and your body beautifully contoured.

Hello and thank you for your question. You are an excellent candidate for a a bra line lift (back lift). This can be extended as far as you like to the front. I would suggest that you also think about a posterior butt lift. This would be like getting a lower body lift which encompasses a tummy tuck and butt  lift with an outside thigh lift. You could get implants at the same time as the butt  lift. You also could use your own fat in 2 ways to augment your butt. Either as a flap or as fat injections.  If your ps who did your tummy tuck specializes in post massive weight loss body contouring check with them, otherwise look for one who does.Peter Fisher M.D