Every plastic surgery procedure has numerous issues that every patient who is undergoing a procedure should know. These explanations are always on a consent form that you should read in detail before surgery. This consent form, while many perceive as strictly a legal protection for the doctor, is actually more intended to improve the understanding of the braline backlift procedure. The following is what Dr. Eppley discusses with his patients for this procedure. This list includes many, but not all,of the different outcomes from surgery. It should generate both a better understanding of the procedure and should answer any remaining questions that one would have.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternatives for improving the appearance of braline back rolls instead of surgical excision is liposuction.
GOALS
The goal of a braline backlift is to eliminate (flatten) the horizontal/oblique rolls of skin and fat that exist either above or below the braline and are accentuated by its wear.
LIMITATIONS
The limitations of the procedure are that only some much skin and fat can be removed and still obtain a competent wound closure. This may or may not completely flatten the back rolls.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
Expected outcomes include the following: temporary swelling and bruising around the incisions, temporary numbness of the surrounding back skin, permanent horizontal braline scars and up to one month after surgery to see the final back result.
RISKS
Significant complications from braline backlifts are extremely rare. More likely risks include infection, hematoma, scars not completely within the braline, overcorrection or undercorrection of the back rolls, and asymmetry of scar placement. Any of these risks may require revisional surgery for improvement.
ADDITIONAL SURGERY
Should additional surgery be required for scar revision or further reduction of incompletely removed back rolls, this will generate additional costs.