Bye, Bye Back Fat?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2003
Bye, Bye Back Fat?
11
Mon, 05-25-2009 - 9:06pm

**thought this might be useful after Mandy mentioned it in one of her other posts - would you do it??? *wink*


Bye, Bye Back Fat?

September 12 (HealthDay News) -- For many women, unsightly bumps and bulges above and below the back of their bra can make wearing body-hugging fashions a nightmare.


Now, a plastic surgeon in North Carolina has designed a procedure that lifts and smoothes the upper and middle back.


In a one-hour procedure, with the patient under general anesthesia, Dr. Joseph P. Hunstad makes an incision across the back, at the level of the bra line. "We strongly gather up every bit of 'tissue laxity,' which can be 8 to 10 inches of excess skin, and remove it," he said.


The area is stitched closed, leaving a fine line scar that is typically hidden under the bra or a swimsuit, he said.


Hunstad reported on the new procedure in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.


He details the case histories of seven women who had the procedure. The average age was 54, and six of seven patients were not overweight. Only one had undergone gastric bypass surgery for weight loss. "This procedure eliminates all the laxity there, and the contour of their whole body becomes taut and smooth," he said. While he uses a short-acting general anesthesia, he said the procedure could be done under a local anesthesia in some patients.


"If we have a heavy patient, which is unusual, we can do liposuction at the same time," he said.


So-called back fat can occur with age or after substantial weight loss, he said.


Patients are advised to avoid vigorous activity, heavy lifting, raising their arms above their head or submerging the surgical site under water after the procedure. They can shower after 24 hours, return to normal activity in three or four days, and can walk for exercise within 48 hours of surgery, Hunstad said.


During the follow-up, on average almost two years, complications were minimal, he said, with no infections or tissue death. Two of the seven women underwent scar revision surgery, but Hunstad said their scars weren't much different than those on the other five patients. It's important, he wrote in the report, to discuss the scar with the patient before the surgery, so expectations are realistic.


The new technique "will catch on," said Dr. Renato Calabria, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon familiar with the procedure. "It's a great operation and works well, and the scar is hidden , but there is still a scar," he noted.


"For years, doctors have used liposuction to take care of back fat," Calabria said. Now, the new procedure might be used in combination with liposuction, he added.


Not everyone will go for it, , however, Calabria said. "Here in Beverly Hills, there are not a lot of patients who want to walk around with that kind of scar," he explained.


Elsewhere, however, Calabria predicted the procedure will catch on. It might be appreciated especially by patients who have lost a substantial amount of weight and have sagging skin on their back.


The cost is about $7,500 to $10,000, Hunstad said, noting the fees vary from region to region. In large metropolitan areas, patients can expect to pay up to $20,000 for it, Calabria said.



SOURCES: Joseph P. Hunstad, M.D., plastic surgeon, Charlotte, N.C.; former professor, Duke University, Durham, N.C., and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Renato Calabria, M.D., plastic surgeon, Beverly Hills, Calif., and instructor, University of Southern California Department of Plastic Surgery; October 2008, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 05-25-2009 - 10:19pm
This is good news for those that need it,
Hopefully not too expensive :)


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Tue, 05-26-2009 - 12:14am

You know I was talking to Mandy about lats and wondering what that was. She told me about back breasts...never heard of that one. When I was overweight ,I did notice extra meat in that area. Now it is gone. That is why I like to work on my uppers a lot....toning and strengthening. The toning and strengthening does help with my everyday house things and other things, I notice that a lot.


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Tue, 05-26-2009 - 12:25am

Forgot to say I rather work on toning my uppers than go with any surgery Nadine. That is an interesting article
though. Looks scary.


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2005
Tue, 05-26-2009 - 5:34am

Wow that sounds WONDERFUL Deenie.
I know a lot of women carrying extra weight on their backs can be quite slim over-all but maybe they have a narrow back or haven't figured out some workout to get rid of it before it gets out of hand.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2003
Tue, 05-26-2009 - 9:07am
Oh, I know all about lats - it is the area that protects all your internal organs on the side...especially the kidneys.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2003
Tue, 05-26-2009 - 9:14am
I am really toned there because of the karate, but I agree - if you were about perfect everywhere else, and you can afford it, go for it!

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Nadine - deenie1979

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Tue, 05-26-2009 - 9:50pm

Really you ladies punch that area? You must be used to it now.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2003
Tue, 05-26-2009 - 10:26pm

Yep, we do - not hard, just enough to get the muscle used to taking the hit.
We did body conditioning today, but didn't do lats...thank goodness...the guy I worked with is very strong, though if I told him to go really easy, he would - he's REALLY good about that.

Nadine - deenie1979

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Tue, 05-26-2009 - 11:22pm

My goodness Nadine...everytime you come out of that class then you must have lots of bruises and
feel kind of sore.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2003
Fri, 05-29-2009 - 10:31pm
Nah, not every class, but at least one of them per week

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