Treatments / Body / Upper body lift
Body contouring after weight loss
Upper Body Lift and Bra-Line Back Lift in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and London
Smoothing back rolls and the sides of the chest
An upper body lift, or bra-line back lift, removes rolls of loose skin from the upper back and the sides of the chest after weight loss, with the scar placed along the bra strap line. Mr Siva Kumar often combines it with a breast uplift or arm lift.
At a glance
What is an upper body lift?
Loose skin on the back and sides
After major weight loss, loose skin often gathers in rolls across the upper back and around the sides of the chest, below the armpits. Bras and tops can dig into these rolls, and they often don’t improve with exercise.
A bra-line back lift removes a band of loose skin and fat across the back. The scar is placed along the line of the bra strap, so that it is usually hidden by a bra or bikini top. The skin of the sides of the chest is tightened at the same time.
An upper body lift often goes together with a breast uplift, with or without implants, or with an arm lift when the loose skin continues down the arm. Combining them can give a smoother result from the arm to the back, but makes the operation longer.
It also suits men after weight loss, where the scar is usually placed across the back or along the fold below the chest, often together with male chest surgery. See all the options on the surgery after weight loss page.
An upper body lift can help with
- Rolls of skin across the upper back
- Loose skin at the sides of the chest, below the armpits
- Bras and straps digging into skin folds
- Loose skin continuing from the back to the arms
- Loose skin on the back and chest in men after weight loss
What it won’t do
- Remove deep fat without some loose skin to take away; if the skin is firm, liposuction may suit you better
- Lift the breasts on its own, which needs a breast uplift
- Leave you without a scar: the scar runs across the back, although it is usually hidden by a bra
Improve skin quality too
Scars and skin quality
Once you have healed, IPL, CO₂ laser or radiofrequency microneedling can soften red or raised scars and improve crepey skin, as part of one joined-up plan.
How surgery and skin treatments fit together · Radiofrequency microneedling
Your options
Planned around your upper body
Most people who need an upper body lift have loose skin in more than one area. Mr Kumar explains which procedures suit you, which can be combined safely, and the best order.
Bra-line back lift
Removes a band of loose skin across the back, with the scar along the bra strap line, and tightens the sides of the chest.
- Best for: back rolls and loose skin below the armpits
With a breast uplift
The breasts are reshaped and lifted in the same operation, with or without implants, for a smoother result from the back to the front.
- Best for: deflated, low breasts after weight loss
- Breast uplift · Uplift with implants
With an arm lift
The arm lift scar is continued along the side of the chest, removing loose skin from the arm and chest wall together.
- Best for: loose skin from the arm down to the side of the chest
- Arm lift
Male upper body lift
Loose skin on the back and chest is removed, with the scars planned to suit the male chest. Remaining fat or gland on the chest can be treated at the same time.
- Best for: men with loose skin after weight loss
- Male chest surgery
Mr Kumar’s view
Planning the scar with you
I always mark the back with you wearing your own bra. The aim is a scar that sits under the strap, not one that shows above it.
The back is often the area people have put up with longest. The change in how a bra or a fitted top feels can matter more than any photograph.
Watch & read
Everything you need to know, in one place
Patient guide
Upper body lift: your patient guide
A detailed booklet written by Mr Kumar. It explains the procedure in depth, how to prepare, every risk and complication, and how to look after yourself afterwards.
Opens as a booklet you can flick through. Your copy is also given to you at consultation.
Your journey
Your step-by-step journey
Your journey starts the moment you get in touch. From your first enquiry to your final check-up, you deal with the same small team, and you will always feel listened to, informed and never rushed.
Get in touch
Call, email or send an enquiry. Our team replies promptly and personally, and finds a time and clinic that suit you.
There is no pressure and no sales script. Tell us a little about what prompted you to get in touch, and we will make sure your consultation is with the right person for you.
Consultation
An unhurried, face-to-face appointment with Mr Kumar himself, who will be your surgeon from start to finish.
He listens to what you would like to change, examines you, explains every option, including non-surgical ones and doing nothing, and gives you an honest view of the likely result.
Time to decide
You receive a written plan, a clear quote and your patient guide, then take as long as you need.
A second consultation is included before surgery, and there is a cooling-off period of at least two weeks. Bring someone with you, ask anything, and change your mind at any point.
Day of treatment
An upper body lift is done under general anaesthetic and takes about two to four hours, longer if it is combined with breast or arm surgery. You lie on your front or side for the back and are turned for any work on the front. You wear a compression garment and usually stay in hospital for one night.
He will see you beforehand to go through the plan and answer last-minute questions, and you will have clear instructions and a number to call once you go home.
Aftercare and follow-up
Reviews at each stage of your recovery, with support 24 hours a day whenever you need it.
Follow-up appointments are included in your package price, and continue until you have healed and are happy with how things have settled. Your wounds are checked regularly in the first few weeks, with nurse support between appointments.
Recovery
Healing, step by step
Everyone heals at their own pace. This is a typical recovery, and Mr Kumar will give you a personal plan.
Rest at home. The back feels tight, especially when reaching forward. Walk little and often, and wear your compression garment.
Wound checks. Most people return to desk work after two to three weeks. Avoid lifting your arms above shoulder height.
Driving from about three weeks, and a gradual return to normal activities. No heavy lifting.
Return to exercise, starting gently with upper body work. The scar slowly softens and fades over the next year.
Patient results
Before & after
Photographs are shared only with each patient’s written consent. Everyone is different, so individual results vary.
More patient results coming soon
In the meantime, Mr Kumar can show you results for patients with similar concerns during your consultation.
Safety
Risks and staying safe
All surgery carries some risk. Mr Kumar will go through these with you in detail, and the patient guide covers them in full, so you can make an informed decision.
Possible risks
- Slow wound healing, especially where the back scar meets the side of the chest
- Fluid collecting under the skin (seroma)
- Bleeding or a collection of blood (haematoma)
- Infection
- Wide or raised scars, or a scar that moves from the bra line
- Tightness across the back for a few weeks
- Numbness of the skin around the scar
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
Lowering your risk
- Your weight should be stable for at least 6 to 12 months
- Eat well, with enough protein, iron and vitamins, which helps healing
- Wear a bra or top to your consultation so the scar line can be planned with you
- Tell Mr Kumar and your anaesthetist if you take weight-loss injections
- Tell us about all medicines and supplements, especially blood thinners
- Stop smoking and vaping well before and after surgery
Fees
Guide price from£10,000
Self-pay consultations £250.
One package price. No hidden surprises.
If you go ahead, you receive a single package price covering your whole journey, so you know exactly what you are paying before you commit. It usually includes:
- Your surgeon’s fee
- Anaesthetist’s fee
- Hospital and theatre fees
- Follow-up consultations
- Aftercare, with 24/7 support
- A clear written quote
FAQs
Your questions, answered
How long does it take to recover from a bra-line back lift?
Most people return to desk work after two to three weeks, start driving after about three weeks and return to exercise from about six weeks. The back feels tight for the first few weeks, especially when reaching forward.
How painful is a back lift?
Most people describe tightness and soreness rather than severe pain, and it is usually well controlled with regular painkillers for the first week or two. It can be uncomfortable to lie flat on your back at first.
Will the scar show?
The scar is placed along the bra strap line, so most bras, bikini tops and swimsuits hide it. Mr Kumar marks it with you wearing your own bra, so it sits where you want it. Like all scars, it is red at first and fades over 12 to 18 months.
Can liposuction get rid of bra-line back fat?
If the problem is a little fat under firm skin, liposuction can help. After major weight loss, though, the problem is usually loose skin, which liposuction cannot remove, and can sometimes make look worse. An upper body lift removes the skin itself.
Can it be combined with a breast uplift?
Often, yes. Combining an upper body lift with a breast uplift can give a smoother shape from the back to the front. It makes the operation longer, so Mr Kumar will advise whether it is safe for you or better staged.
Can men have an upper body lift?
Yes. Men often have loose skin on the back and chest after weight loss. The scars are planned differently, usually across the back and along the fold below the chest, and any remaining chest fat or gland can be treated at the same time.
How much does an upper body lift cost?
The guide price starts from £10,000. Your final fee depends on your treatment plan and choice of hospital, and is confirmed in a written quote after consultation. Self-pay consultations cost £250.
Is it covered by insurance?
Cosmetic treatment is not usually covered by health insurance. Where there is a medical reason, it may be. Insurers will need Mr Kumar’s full name, Siva Kumar Veeramani, and GMC number 6114710.
Locations
Where to have your upper body lift in Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Your consultation and follow-up appointments with Mr Siva Kumar are at The Ü Clinic in Sevenoaks, Kent, or The Ü Clinic in Oxted, Surrey. Your surgery takes place at one of his partner hospitals: The McIndoe Centre in East Grinstead, West Sussex, KIMS Hospital in Maidstone, or North Downs Hospital in Caterham. See all of Mr Siva Kumar's clinic and hospital locations.
Both clinics are within easy reach of Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, West Malling, Westerham, Swanley, Dartford, Gravesend, Orpington, Bromley, Redhill, Reigate, Caterham, Coulsdon, Purley and Croydon. KIMS Hospital in Maidstone is close to Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Aylesford and Ashford, and The McIndoe Centre in East Grinstead is close to Crawley, Horley, Haywards Heath and Edenbridge. Patients also travel from across Sussex, including Brighton, Worthing, Horsham, Eastbourne, Hastings and Crowborough.
Upper body lift cost: guide prices start from £10,000. Your fee is confirmed in a written quote after your consultation. See all prices.
Thinking about upper body lift?
Start with an unhurried consultation with Mr Siva Kumar at The Ü Clinic in Sevenoaks or Oxted. Self-pay consultations cost £250.