Back liposuction is a procedure aimed at removing excess fat from various areas of the back, creating a more streamlined and contoured silhouette. After the operation, patients often notice how beautifully their back looks in tight-fitting clothing, and how the bulges of fat above and below underwear have disappeared. Additionally, it is possible to remove fat from the “saddle” area or make the shoulder blades more graceful.
Typically, during back liposuction, anywhere from 800 to 2,000 ml of fat can be suctioned.
Possible areas for back liposuction include the shoulder blades, saddle area, and the area above and below the bra line.
Short surgery information
-
Surgery Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
-
Type of Anesthesia: Sedation and local anesthesia; general anesthesia for individuals weighing over 100 kg
-
Hospitalization: 2-3 hours
-
Return to Normal Life: The next day
-
Clinic Visits: 2-3 times
-
Stitches Removal: 7-14 days
Why patients consider back liposuction?
Patients often consider back liposuction for several reasons:
-
Age and weight-related changes: With age or significant weight changes, stubborn fat deposits may develop on the back that are difficult to eliminate through diet and exercise. Back liposuction can remove these deposits, improving body contours and reducing discomfort in this area.
-
Genetic predisposition: Some individuals are genetically predisposed to accumulate fat in specific areas, including the back. Back liposuction can be beneficial in such cases by removing stubborn fat deposits and enhancing overall appearance.
-
Improved self-esteem and comfort: Having fat deposits on the back can affect self-esteem and clothing choices, especially if the fat protrudes above the bra line or clothing. Back liposuction can improve appearance, allowing for more comfortable and confident wear of tight-fitting clothing and swimsuits.
Who is a candidate for the surgery?
An ideal candidate for back liposuction typically meets the following criteria:
-
Good overall health: Optimal candidates for liposuction are individuals in good health without significant medical issues that could affect the healing process or increase the risk of complications during surgery.
-
Stable weight: Ideal candidates usually have a stable weight that they can maintain. Liposuction is not a method for weight reduction but rather a way to enhance body contours by removing stubborn fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise.
-
Elastic skin: The best results are achieved in patients with elastic skin that can contract well after fat cell removal. Patients with loose skin may achieve less satisfactory results.
-
Realistic expectations: It is important for patients to have realistic expectations about the results of liposuction and understand that it is not a method for treating obesity or a replacement for a healthy lifestyle.
Why South Korea leads in cosmetic procedures and liposuction
South Korea consistently ranks as the world’s leader in cosmetic procedures and surgeries. Local physicians are regarded as the most educated and competitive globally, with only 0.01% of medical school graduates becoming plastic surgeons. The country’s medical equipment and technology are on par with the United States and Germany, placing it in the top three nations with the best-equipped clinics.
All liposuction procedures are performed in accredited clinics authorized to treat foreign patients and staffed with resident anesthesiologists. Surgeons performing procedures on our patients have between 15 and 30 years of experience, specialize in liposuction, and limit their daily patient load to two. Please fill out the questionnaire to calculate the cost of treatment, provide preliminary consultation, and prepare a travel plan to South Korea for your surgery.
How to prepare for liposuction in South Korea
-
Fasting: Refrain from eating and drinking for 8 hours before the procedure. Take a shower before arriving at the clinic.
-
Medications: Avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen (including Advil or Motrin), and other drugs that may increase the risk of bleeding for 2 weeks before the operation. Tylenol is prohibited only for 3 days before the surgery.
-
Smoking: Do not smoke, including hookah and e-cigarettes. Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and can slow tissue healing. Your doctor may recommend quitting smoking before the surgery, as some surgeons refuse to operate on smokers due to a higher risk of complications. Avoid being near smokers, whether they are relatives, friends, or in public smoking areas.
-
Medical history: Review your medical history. Be prepared to answer questions about current and past illnesses and any recent medications you have taken. Do not withhold this information from your surgeon and coordinators.
-
Consultation: Schedule an examination with the surgeon and show them photos of your desired results. Try to choose photos where the patient’s body type resembles yours.
-
Medical tests: If you have had tests done less than a month ago, you can bring them with you. Otherwise, all necessary tests will be conducted in Korea.
-
Transportation: Arrange for someone to drive you to the clinic or assist you after the surgery if you plan to arrive by car.
-
Prepare essentials: Place items near your bed that you may need during your recovery, such as lip balm, water, a chocolate bar, or your mobile phone.
The liposuction procedure
Before taking the patient into the operating room, the surgeon sketches the design on the body. Don’t worry about marker traces on your skin – after the operation, medical staff will wipe the liposuction area with warm towels.
Before starting the operation, the patient is escorted to the restroom, questioned about their well-being and the last intake of food and water, and placed on the operating table. A catheter is inserted into the arm or leg, through which pre-anesthesia medications are administered. The operation area is disinfected, and the limbs are secured with straps to minimize the risk of patient movement during sleep. Blood pressure is measured, and an anesthesiologist administers a sedative solution and monitors the patient’s condition.
Once the sedative takes effect and the patient is asleep, the surgeon administers a pain-relieving injection (usually in the buttocks) and begins the operation. First, a medical solution is injected under the skin, which turns solid subcutaneous fat into liquid. After a few minutes, it is suctioned out using a cannula.
After completing the fat removal procedure, the incision edges (2-4mm) are sutured with threads, the operation area is thoroughly wiped dry with towels, and the patient is awakened and assisted to their recovery room for rest and recuperation.
What to expect after surgery
After the surgery is completed, the translator and medical nurses will wake you up and assist you in moving to your room. Most patients don’t remember this moment, and it may feel like they woke up in a warm bed – that’s the effect of anesthesia.
In the first 10-20 minutes after waking up, you may experience shivering, but this will quickly pass. There will be minimal pain, as it is dulled by pain relief injections and medications used during the surgery. You’ll be offered a chance to rest, drink orange juice, and have some porridge to aid in your recovery.
About an hour after waking up, it’s important to get up and walk around the clinic corridors for 5-10 minutes. During this walk, you may feel discomfort similar to muscle soreness after a workout, but it will help you adapt to the post-surgery symptoms and understand your condition. If you don’t experience symptoms like nausea and dizziness, the clinic staff will prepare you for discharge – you can change clothes, wear compression garments, collect your medications and recommendations, and go home.
Every time you move and strain the area where the surgery was performed, you may feel discomfort resembling muscle pain, but when at rest, you won’t experience any painful sensations, and your body will recover within 5-7 days.
Book a consultation with the clinic coordinator or plastic surgeon today!
You can schedule a consultation by filling out the QUESTIONNAIRE or contacting us on any messenger at +82-10-4214-9603.
Recovery process and description of procedures after liposuction
Immediate post-procedure: There is no pain at rest, and medical fluid may be discharged from the sutures (don’t be alarmed if it’s red). You can leave the clinic within 1-3 hours after the surgery if you don’t experience symptoms like nausea, weakness, or dizziness.
Days 1-2: The surgical area starts to swell, and bruises may appear. Active movements may cause discomfort. Try to move and walk as much as possible; it helps reduce swelling and speeds up recovery.
Days 3-7: Swelling reaches its peak and gradually begins to decrease. Bruises (if any) start to turn yellow. Both swelling and bruises may move down from the surgical area – from hips to knees, from knees to calves, from underarm hollows to elbows or chest. Don’t worry; this is a natural part of the rehabilitation process.
Days 7-14: Swelling decreases, and any remaining bruises start to fade. The surgeon removes sutures, and you can start taking showers without waterproof bandages. Regular extended walks are recommended for faster recovery. Don’t forget to apply healing ointment to dissolve the sutures; soon, the fact that you had surgery will become inconspicuous.
Days 14-21: Patients can perform daily activities without discomfort. Avoid intense workouts and physical exercises. You can briefly remove compression garments.
Days 21-30: Swelling continues to decrease, and the liposuction area gradually takes on its new shape.
Days 31-60: Remnants of swelling gradually subside, symmetry is restored.You can start exercising, swim in the sea or pool.
Days 60-90: Swelling completely subsides, and the rehabilitation process comes to an end.
6 months after surgery: Complete the rehabilitation process.
Frequently Asked Questions
We provide our patients with a final cost that includes post-operative care, anesthesia, room stay, medications, and even VAT (which can be refunded as tax-free). The cost of back liposuction ranges from 2,200,000 to 5,500,000 KRW depending on the clinic and the patient's initial condition. Accredited plastic surgeons in Korea caution that the surgery's price may change after a personal examination, measurement of the patient's parameters, and information about whether your surgery is the first or a revision.
Liposuction typically takes 1-2 hours.
With a properly performed procedure, skin sensitivity fully returns within three months after surgery (usually within 2-3 weeks).
Each surgeon has their own rules, but it's usually on the 7th or 14th day.
In the puncture areas, small red dots measuring 2-4mm will be noticeable for a few weeks. They will start to lighten after about 2 months and almost completely disappear within 6-12 months. If you want to expedite the process, don't forget to apply scar-reducing ointment or use silicone patches.
You can return to your daily life as early as the day after the surgery.
The procedure can be done from the age of 16 with the consent of a guardian.
Within a month, most of the swelling will subside, and you'll be able to see the new shape of your body. However, the final result will be visible within 3-6 months.
If the surgery is performed by an experienced surgeon, and you follow the rehabilitation rules - no.
Within 1-2 weeks after surgery.
From two complex zones, such as arms + abdomen, abdomen + legs, legs + back. If you want to remove fat from 3-4 zones, you will need to have the surgery twice with a minimum 24-hour break, for example, arms and abdomen one day, and legs and back after 2-3 days. This approach is safe for the patient.
Skin itching may occur due to wearing compression garments; this is absolutely normal and will soon pass. You can use a skin cream to reduce itching.
24 hours a day for the first 2 weeks, then they can be briefly removed during the day, but must be worn at home and at night. In the following 2-4 weeks, they should be worn before bedtime.
It should be at least three months after childbirth and the end of breastfeeding.
Yes, there are no restrictions on this after 2-3 months following the surgery.
A repeat operation will not be needed if your surgery was performed by an experienced doctor, and you haven't gained more than 15-20 kg.
You can start exercising 4 weeks after surgery.
Yes, but liposuction should be done first, as during the procedure, the patient is turned from their back to their stomach. After facial surgeries and breast augmentation, it's prohibited to lie on your stomach. Be sure to inform us of your plans for other surgeries.
Surgeons agree that any time of the year is equally comfortable for patients. The most popular seasons for plastic surgeries are spring and autumn, so we recommend booking at least 1-2 months in advance during these times.
Yes, this option is available.
Before & After
Step 1: Fill out the QUESTIONNAIRE
First and foremost, you need to fill out a form. This will help us and the surgeons better understand your expectations and review your medical history. In the form, be sure to provide your personal information, details about any previous surgeries, and your current health condition. Unfortunately, patients with HIV infection are not eligible for plastic surgeries in Korea.
Step 2: Attach photos
Attaching photos of the areas of your body or face that you would like to have corrected is a crucial step. This allows us to make a preliminary cost estimate and direct you to a specialist who can address your concerns.
Step 3: Submit and wait for confirmation
After submitting the form and photos, your application will be reviewed, and we will contact you to confirm details and schedule a consultation.
Step 4: Prepare for the consultation
Prepare a list of questions you would like to ask the coordinator and surgeon during the consultation. We recommend bringing a phone with notes or a notepad to help you stay organized and obtain all the information you need. Additionally, you can always ask any questions you have in a personal chat created for discussing the details of your trip.