Risks and Benefits of Back Scoop Surgery

Back scoop surgery is a fairly low risk procedure relative to back surgery for medical reasons. The skin on the back is quite elastic so scarring and sagging is less likely than when similar cosmetic procedures are conducted on the arms or thighs. Most surgeons hide the scar underneath the bra-strap line (for women).

Whilst there are no medical benefits from back scoop surgery, many of its proponents hail it as an excellent way of reducing waist size and balancing the figure. Where little stomach fat exists, a person may find it difficult to drop a waist size without removing some fat from their back. Additionally, by having fat removed from the back of the shoulders the indentation that can occur from a bra-strap may be avoided.

Does Back Scoop Surgery Pose Unnecessary Risks?

Any surgical procedure carries a degree of risk, with back scoop surgery no different in this regard than any other back surgery. The brevity of the procedure lessens the risks of infection, anaesthetic problems, thrombophlebitis, and stiffness. If performed under a local anaesthetic then patients are usually mobile very quickly after surgery and can return home fairly promptly. There is a risk of infection any time the body is opened up through surgery, and patients must ensure that they have the procedure carried out at a reputable facility by a qualified plastic surgeon. Liposuction can cause significant tissue damage if improperly conducted, with bleeding, hemorrhage, and major trauma possible. These risks are very low, however, but need to be weighed against the purported benefits of the procedure. It is important to remember that there is no medical requirement for this back surgery.

Surgeons (in the US) should be registered with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and patients should feel confident in the experience, health, and hygiene of the clinic they visit. Asking to see before and after pictures of previous patients can help with the decision to undergo the surgery. There is a possibility that the result may be uneven, with more fat taken from one side of the back than the other. The result may look disproportionate to the rest of the body. Additionally, taking too much fat can leave too little cushioning between the skin and bones of the back and little shock absorption or insulation for the internal organs close to the back (such as the kidneys).

Back Scoop Surgery Scarring and Prognosis

Heidi Montag claimed to feel fragile after her back scoop surgery but, aside from some bruising, there is likely to be no lasting weakness associated with this procedure. Ms. Montag is relatively young compared to the usual customers for this cosmetic surgery, with women in their fifties making up the majority of those having the bra-line back lift surgery carried out. In cases of large amounts of fat being removed, there may be some skin excised additionally, with suturing of the skin hiding the scar under the bra-line to fit the smaller amount of back tissue. In a number of cases the scars have had to be redone, with older patients likely to have more extensive scarring as their skin is usually less elastic than those younger. It is, of course, possible that the fat will simply grow back, as part of the natural ageing process usually causes rolls of tissue on the back.