Hello Optimistic8965, thank you for your question regarding can a tummy tuck can improve my back appearance. Thank you for your history and your pictures. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen, lifts and reduces the pubic region, plicates the six-pack muscles, and reorients the belly button. The tummy tuck does not affect the hips; it does not affect the buttocks. The tummy tuck definitely leaves the back rolls you depict in your pictures unchanged. Additionally, a circumferential tummy tuck or a circumferential lower body lift adds a hip lift and a butt lift to the tummy tuck. During a circumferential tummy tuck or lower body lift, the extended tummy tuck incision is carried out over the hips and connects to the top of the buttocks on the backside. Tissue dissection is done down to the buttocks, and the buttocks are elevated. During a circumferential tummy tuck or body lift, the back is not pulled down; rather, the buttocks are pulled up. Therefore, in a circumferential lower body lift, the entire abdominal wall is pulled down, and the hips and buttocks are pulled up. Again, like the tummy tuck, the circumferential tummy tuck or circumferential lower body lift does not improve the back rolls. The only thing that will improve your back skin rolls would be a torsoplasty or a back lift. There are two types of torsoplasties: vertical and horizontal. During a vertical torsoplasty, an incision is made from your armpit down your sides, and excess skin and fat are removed, leading to more of an hourglass shape. The benefit of the vertical torsoplasty is that these scars are relatively hidden when your arms are down by your side. Most plastic surgeons would agree that the vertical torssoplasty incision would probably be the best procedure for your back rolls. In your case, the incision would extend from the armpit to approximately two or 3 cm below your lowest back skin fold. Another alternative is a horizontal torsoplasty. The horizontal mastopexy is also called a "bra strap lift" or a "braplasty" because the incision follows the bra strap line. It is basically an incision that goes from your lateral breast across your back and connects horizontally in the back. A butterfly-shaped area of skin and fat is removed from the back, and you wind up with a lovely flat back. In general, the horizontal torsoplasty usually removes more back tissue and back rolls than the vertical torsoplasty. However, the disadvantage of the horizontal torsoplasty is that the scar is relatively visible. However, it is the definitive procedure for your back skin rolls. In conclusion, a tummy tuck will not improve your back. Additionally, a circumferential tummy tuck or lower body lift will not improve your back. The only thing that will improve your back would be a torsoplasty. It’s up to you whether you want a vertical incision from the armpit down your sides or an incision across the back. Thank you for your question regarding whether a tummy tuck can improve your back appearance. Good luck. I hope I've answered your question regarding can a tummy tuck improve my back appearance. If you have any more questions regarding back liposuction, back lift, vertical torsoplasty, hourglassing procedure, horizontal torsoplasty, bra strap plasty, or bra plasty, contact an experienced plastic surgeon. Since the torsoplasty is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the vertical and horizontal torsoplasty. Do your research. Make sure they have performed at least 100 torsoplasty surgeries and have the before-and-after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before-and-after pictures and evaluate their reviews on RealSelf. If you cannot find an experienced toric plastic surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state if you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen (President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons; certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery; and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)
