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Estimated reading time: 13 minutes and 37 seconds
We can easily control some of the regional fat in our body by doing regular diet and sports. However, it is difficult to get results in some areas, especially if we have gained excess weight in the past. Even if we do sports consistently for a long time and pay attention to what we eat, we may not get the image we want in these areas. The reason for this is the problem of losing the elasticity of our skin in some areas, especially after losing weight. Skin sagging that occurs after adiposity in our back area is exactly one of these challenging areas.
Especially if we have lost weight quickly after gaining too much weight, our back skin, which stretches and expands during weight gain, cannot return to its former state after weight loss. In this case, our skin sags, relaxation occurs in our muscles and an aesthetically unpleasant appearance emerges.
Back lift surgery is the process of removing the excess skin and fat tissue that has sagged in our body and re-stretching the remaining skin more tightly. This surgery aims to correct the sagging appearance in the areas descending towards the back, waist and hips.
Ideal Candidates For the Surgery
So, for whom is back lift surgery suitable? We may prefer back lift surgery in the following cases:
- Serious weight loss: If we lose the weight we have gained for many years in a short time with natural methods or obesity treatment, we may experience sagging in our back area. If we have lost a sufficient amount of weight and the sagging parts do not contain fat, we can directly turn to back lift operation. However, if we have not yet completed our weight loss process, we may need to have a liposuction procedure before back lift surgery. Our doctor will guide us on this issue during the preliminary examination.
- Age-related skin sagging: With the aging process, the collagen tissue that gives our skin a young and taut appearance begins to weaken. With the effect of gravity, our skin loses its elasticity and sagging occurs. Although we can partially recover our skin by doing sports, it is not enough to do sports for a complete solution. We can consider back lift surgery in such cases.
- Skin sagging after pregnancy: Pregnancy is one of the periods when women experience the most biological changes. We gain a significant amount of weight in this process. After birth, it is possible to lose weight again with a carefully followed diet and exercise programme. However, skin sagging may occur after weight loss, especially in the abdomen and back area. Back lift surgery is an option that can be considered for sagging in our back area after birth.
It is true that back lift surgery is more common among women due to the unaesthetic appearance of low-cut dresses. However, in recent years, we see that men who want a fitter and younger appearance also prefer back lift surgery. Therefore, the surgery is suitable for both men and women. However, in order to get the maximum efficiency from the surgery, we must make sure that our weight loss process is completed. Otherwise, our weight loss process will continue after surgery and this will cause sagging in the areas recovered by surgery.
How is back lift surgery performed?
For the answer to the question of how back lift surgery is performed, we can answer that the size of the incisions to be opened, where the incisions will be opened and the duration of the operation may differ for each operation, but the method to be followed is basically the same:
Consultation and Evaluation: During the interview with our surgeon, we clearly express which area we complain about and what kind of expectations we have. We should also inform our surgeon about our health status, medical history, and the medications we are using, if any. In order to achieve a more aesthetic result, back lift surgery can be performed as a combined surgery with arm lift, tummy tuck, thigh lift if the sagging is throughout the body. Our surgeon informs us about the possible surgical planning and result based on all this information during the examination.
The following steps are followed during back lift surgery:
- Anaesthesia: Our surgery starts with general anaesthesia. After the anaesthesia is given, we fall into a deep sleep and come to our senses after the operation is over. Thus, our surgery is completed without us feeling any pain.
- Skin incision: Our surgeon makes incisions in the areas where the sagging skin tissue will be removed. The incisions are usually strategically placed to facilitate concealment of the areas. The size of the incisions may vary depending on the size of the skin to be removed and the sagging. The sagging area is removed and the muscles are tightened. During the operation, the nerves and tissues in the affected area are not damaged.
- Aesthetic stitching: Before our incisions are closed, the final touches are made to give our body a more contoured appearance. Our surgeon can reposition some tissues according to the need. After these final touches, our incisions are closed with aesthetic sutures.
- After the operation, the areas affected by the surgery are covered with a dressing and we are fitted with a body corset before leaving the hospital. This corset is extremely important both for the protection and faster healing of the suture areas and for the more successful result of the shape given to our body during surgery. We must wear our medical corset for about 4 weeks in order to get maximum efficiency from our surgery.
Postoperative Process
Since our surgery is performed under general anaesthesia, we do not feel any pain during the operation. The duration of our surgery may vary depending on the size of the sagging area to be recovered on our back or whether it will be a combined surgery with arms and abdomen. However, if we are only having a back lift, our operation takes approximately 2 hours.
We are hospitalised on the night of the day of the operation. If there is no unusual situation, we are discharged from the hospital the next day with the approval of our doctor.
As in every surgery, we can get the most accurate information about what we should do in the postoperative period in back lift surgery from our surgeon who knows us one-to-one. Therefore, we should put the recommendations of our surgeon and the paramedics who take care of us at the top of our list.
Pain, swelling and bruising are common side effects that can be expected after surgery. Our doctor will prescribe appropriate painkillers for our pain. In addition, if there are creams we need to use, we should use them without neglecting them.
The question of how to sleep after back lift surgery is one of the frequently asked questions about this surgery. In the first few days after the operation, we should definitely lie on our side to avoid straining our back area. After 3-5 days, we can start sleeping on our backs. The healing process is about 10 days. In this process, we should rest as much as possible, we should avoid movements that will tire our body, especially the operation area. We should definitely rest after intermittent light walks.
It is important to keep the dressing areas clean and dry. We should definitely pay attention to the cleanliness of these areas in order to prevent infection in these areas after surgery. Over time, the stitch marks in these areas will fade and disappear to a great extent.
Poles can be placed in our body to prevent fluid accumulation in the body after the operation. These braces placed for precautionary purposes are removed within 4-6 days.
If we are working in a job that does not require physical strength, we can return to work after about 10 days. However, we should avoid movements that require straining our back area for the first 5-6 weeks. After about a month and a half, the limitations on our movements will be largely removed.
In order for the results of our surgery to be fully visible, all oedema should be removed and all swelling should go down. This process takes approximately 4 to 6 months to complete.
Postoperative Pain
The question of whether back lift surgery is painful is one of the most curious questions about this surgery. However, it is not easy to give a single answer to this question that can apply to everyone. Let’s try to answer this question in detail below:
- Personal pain threshold: Like any surgical procedure, back lift surgery can be a painful process. However, the reflection of pain may differ from person to person because each individual’s sensitivity to pain is different. For one person, the postoperative process may be a painful experience, while for another person it may be an easier process to manage.
- The extent of the surgery: How large or complex our surgery is can affect the level of postoperative pain. Removing a relatively large amount of skin tissue or performing a combined surgery with an arm lift or tummy tuck in addition to a back lift surgery will also enlarge the area affected by the surgery, so the pain may be relatively more effective in such cases.
- Surgical technique: Postoperative pain levels may vary depending on the techniques and experience of the surgeon. With an operation performed by a more experienced surgeon, the pain during the healing process can be overcome much more easily.
However, postoperative pain can be controlled with painkillers prescribed by our surgeon. In addition, resting in the postoperative period and acting in accordance with the recommendations of our surgeon will accelerate our healing process and help us to complete the process with less pain. Generally, by the end of the first week, we see that our pain starts to lose its effect without the need to use painkillers anymore.
Recovery Process
One of the most common questions we receive about this surgery, which is frequently preferred by both men and women, is the question of how long it takes to recover after back lift surgery. We would love to answer this question with a clear time. However, the recovery time after surgery may vary depending on many factors. Some of these factors are as follows:
- Type of surgery: Back lift surgeries can be performed in different ways. For example, the recovery time may differ between a surgery that covers only the upper back area and a surgery that includes the upper, middle and lower back area.
- Complexity of the surgery: The complexity of the surgery is another important factor affecting the recovery time. While back lift surgery alone is a relatively simple surgery, when arm or tummy tuck surgeries are added to back lift surgery, the area affected by the surgery becomes larger and more complex. More complex surgeries usually require a longer recovery period.
- Personal factors: Factors such as our general health, whether we have chronic diseases, medications, age, body weight, smoking habits can affect our recovery time. A healthier person usually heals faster.
- Surgeon’s experience: The experience and expertise of the surgeon performing the surgery can also affect the recovery time. An experienced surgeon can reduce the risk of complications.
- Postoperative care: Resting in the postoperative period, keeping the operation area clean and dry, and regular use of medications accelerate our healing process. Otherwise, our surgical area may become infected or our stitches may be opened with difficulty, which will prolong our recovery period.
It is normal to experience symptoms such as pain, swelling and bruising in the first few weeks after back lift surgery. However, these symptoms decrease by the end of the first week and our healing process continues. For the first two weeks, we should avoid movements that may strain the back area. This process is extremely important for our recovery. Therefore, we should rest as much as possible. For the best result, we should use the medical corset given to us after the operation for the first month without interruption. The corset is not only used to consolidate the results of the surgery. It also has the effect of facilitating healing as it protects the operation area by limiting our movements. For this reason, the use of corset after surgery is extremely important for recovery.
Full recovery time may vary from person to person, but usually the healing process is completed at the end of the first one and a half or two months. It takes approximately 4-6 months for the result obtained by the surgery to fully appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Back lift surgery, also known as posterior body lift or upper body lift, is a cosmetic procedure aimed at removing excess skin and fat from the back to improve its contour and appearance.
Good candidates for back lift operation are individuals who have excess skin and fat on their back, often due to significant weight loss, aging, or genetics. Candidates should be in good overall health and have realistic expectations about the outcomes.
During a back lift surgery, the surgeon makes incisions along the back, removes excess skin and fat, and tightens the remaining tissue to create a smoother and more toned appearance. The procedure may vary depending on the individual’s needs and goals.
Recovery from back lift operation typically involves some discomfort, swelling, and bruising, which can be managed with pain medication and proper post-operative care. Patients are usually advised to avoid strenuous activities for several weeks and wear compression garments to support healing.
Like any surgical procedure, back lift surgery carries risks such as infection, bleeding, scarring, and adverse reactions to anesthesia. It’s essential to choose a qualified and experienced surgeon to minimize these risks.
The results of back lift surgery can be long-lasting, especially if the patient maintains a healthy lifestyle with proper diet and exercise. However, factors such as aging and fluctuations in weight can affect the outcome over time.
While scarring is inevitable with any surgical procedure, a skilled surgeon will make incisions in areas that can be easily concealed, such as along the bra line or within natural skin creases. Over time, scars typically fade and become less noticeable.
The cost of back lift operation varies depending on factors such as the surgeon’s experience, geographic location, facility fees, and the extent of the procedure. It’s essential to consult with a surgeon for a personalized quote and to inquire about financing options.
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