If you have fat rolls around your lower, middle, or upper back, your surgeon may recommend a back lift.

• Your surgeon makes incisions on both sides of your mid back (where their folds used to be) or near the bra line for women.
• The surgeon removes the excess skin from the area and closes the incisions with absorbable sutures, glue, or tape.

Why get an upper body lift?

Aging, weight fluctuations, massive weight loss, bariatric surgery, pregnancy, and liposuction can leave you with extra fat or skin that does not improve with diet or exercise. If you have loose skin under your arms, by your armpits, on your breasts, and rolls on your back, an upper body lift may be right for you.

Below are some of the benefits of an upper body lift:

• Remove excess fat or skin that causes chafing and rashes
• Tighten loose and sagging skin for a smoother contour
• Eliminate “back rolls” or rolls of fat around the edges of your lower back
• Look better in clothes
• Improve your self-image and self-confidence

What should I consider before getting an upper body lift?

Please consult with your aesthetic plastic surgeon for more information on what is unique to you.

• You need to be in overall good health without untreated medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.
• You can’t smoke. Smoking slows down the healing process and increases the risk of serious complications during and after surgery.
• Your weight needs to have been stable for at least a year, with no further weight loss expected. For optimal results, you should not undergo body contouring until two years after the start of any massive-weight-loss program. This time allows your skin to shrink as much as possible, and your nutrition will optimize, which will aid your recovery. Slender individuals with extra fat and loose skin in the upper body are the best candidates. If you are generally obese, you will need to slim down before considering an upper body lift.
• You may have fairly large scars that your surgeon will try to hide or minimize.
• Weight gain following an upper body lift may negatively affect your surgery results.
• If you plan to have children, you may want to postpone your surgery. Pregnancy will stretch the skin and compromise your surgery results.

This surgical procedure requires a lengthy recovery. You will probably need one to three days of hospitalization or nursing care at home, and it could take two to three weeks to get back to your normal routine.