Liposuction of the Upper Back (Flanks)
Tumescent liposuction of the upper back or flanks, similar to liposuction of the lower back or waist, helps to restore the feminine 'hour glass' contour of the torso. Liposuction of this area both slims the area, reducing clothing size in very disproportionate cases, and reduces the appearance of rolls, which tend to appear horizontally on the back when excess fat accumulates there.
Areas associated with the upper back include two fat pads that appear around the axillary or underarm area. These are called the anterior and posterior axillary fat pads. These fat pads tend to cause contour problems especially associated with bra use. The posterior fat pad causes a roll that is pinched above the bra line in the back, and the anterior fat pad causes a small vertical roll on the front of the chest in between the arm and the cup of the bra. Though generally small, these fat pads can cause much distress, and many women find liposuction of these areas to be very satisfying cosmetically.
Another beautiful effect of waist liposuction on body contour is the improvement in buttocks contour. While waist liposuction does not generally involve any liposuction of the buttocks itself, the fat of the waist lies directly above the fat of the buttocks, and tends to give the buttocks a more square appearance. By removing this fat, the buttocks appears rounder and subtly fuller.
It is important to realize that liposuction is not a cure nor an appropriate treatment for obesity. Though effective liposuction of the upper back can reduce the size of the upper torso, obese patients will tend to notice less of a difference than patients of normal weight because of the size of the bony and muscular frame, which will of course be larger in a larger person. However, many obese patients tend to have horizontal rolls due to accumulated fat in this region, and this contour issue should significantly improve with tumescent liposuction. An evaluation in person is the best way to determine whether liposuction of this region would yield satisfactory results and whether the anterior and posterior fat pads should be treated simultaneously. Many patients combine liposuction of this area with liposuction of the upper arms, due to the proximity of the fat compartments and the presumably genetic tendency of the body to accumulate fat in both areas jointly.
An ideal candidate for liposuction has been at a normal, stable body weight for at least 2 years and is physically fit and healthy. Other people, including some who are obese, can be reasonable candidates for the procedure as long as they are not likely to increase their body weight further and as long as their expectations are in line with what liposuction can be reasonably expected to achieve.
