Is the Lower Back Consider the Flank Area?

Thank you for your question.  It's a challenging question because each plastic surgeon may have a slightly different definition.

In my own practice I frequently perform flank liposuction with my tummy tucks as part of the procedure.  For appropriate candidates with good skin tone I think it just makes the tummy tuck look better.  I call this frontal flank liposuction and it basically involve suctioning of the sides of the abdomen as far back as I can with a patient asleep facing upright.

 

Some patients have additional flank fulness above the buttocks.  I really can't get to this area with the patient facing upright during tummy tuck.  For patients with fatty fulness in this area I offer them additional posterior flank liposuction, placing them face down before we even begin the tummy tuck and suctioning the lower  posterior flank. In the appropriate candidate I find that suctioning this area can give a much more aesthetic shape to the lower back in the upper buttocks.

 

Because this posterior  flank takes  longer and is more extensive than the standard frontal flank liposuction I consider this a second site of liposuction.

 

It sounds like your plastic surgeon may handle this similarly  I would recommend you speak with him or her. No bridges have been burned because you can always add this on as an additional side of liposuction at a later date.

 

Best wishes.

It is difficult without pictures or examination to tell exactly what you mean by lower back, is it lower back roll or excess skin a fat adjacent to midline. The flanks usually refer to waist area and stops before the back midline. Having the love handle on lower back may mean you required extended tummy tuck or lower body lift. You need to talk to your plastic surgeon about your concerns.