Battling Bra Bulge: Treatments That Eliminate Back Fat
Many women struggle with excess fatty deposits that become accentuated each time they put on a bra. This excess back fat (also commonly referred to as bra fat, bra bulge, or bra overhang) can impact the aesthetic of the silhouette and make women feel uncomfortable in their day to day lives.
Some women experience bra bulge simply as a result of wearing an improperly fitting bra. For many, however, excess back fat is the result of normal aging and fat accumulation. While targeted exercises and lifestyle changes can provide improvements in the area, they are often not enough. Fortunately, there are several effective surgical and non-surgical treatments available to target bra fat.
Kybella
Kybella is an injectable treatment designed to break down and destroy fat cells. It’s a synthetic version of deoxycholic acid, which is a naturally occurring molecule in the body responsible for breaking up and absorbing dietary acid. When injected into targeted fat pockets, Kybella initializes a chemical reaction that causes the destruction of fat cells. After treatment, the fat that is cleared from the area is processed by the body’s natural metabolic process. While Kybella is currently only FDA approved for treating submental fullness (i.e. double chin), it can be used as an “off label” treatment to eliminate bra fat.
Coolsculpting
Did you know that you can freeze your bra bulge away? CoolSculpting is a non-surgical body contouring treatment that uses controlled cooling (cryotherapy) to effectively reduce stubborn fat. During the procedure, a treatment applicator is applied to the surface of the skin to deliver precisely controlled cooling that targets and eliminates fat cells in specific areas of the body. Like Kybella, treated fat cells are eliminated by the body’s natural metabolic processes while surrounding tissue is unaffected.
Liposuction
The most effective way to treat back fat is through liposuction. Only liposuction will provide a guaranteed result that (with proper maintenance) will keep the bra fat from returning. While there are a few different variations of liposuction techniques, they all share the same principle: fat cells are suctioned away from a targeted treatment area through a cannula (hollow tube) with the help of an aspirator (suction device) in order to improve the contour of the body.
SmartLipo (laser-assisted liposuction) is often the ideal liposuction technique for treating bra fat. The procedure utilizes a laser fiber that delivers energy into the fat layer causing fat cells to soften, making it easier to remove via suction. The SmartLipo laser also tightens the skin in the treatment area to provide a smoother result.
Your physician can help you determine which procedure would be the best option for your specific needs and goals.
A united group of skin care specialists from Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, Austin's leader in Dermatology and Plastic Surgery. Articles posted under WD staff are authored through combined contributions from our entire team, including Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists, Aestheticians, Physician Assistants, Aesthetic Nurses, and Patient Coordinators.
The back bra area is my trouble area, no matter how hard I diet and workout I still have those bulges when I put on any bra 🙁
I never knew back fat can be treated. I wish I could have done this a month ago.
I do have bra bulge issue too but I don’t want to do liposuction and injectable treatment. I guess I could try coolsculpting and hope it works for me.
Hi Fitoru,
It sounds like CoolSculpting is the treatment option for you, especially since you want to avoid invasive procedures. If you are interested in learning more about what CoolSculpting can do for you please give us a call!
Thanks,
WD Staff
Good Evening
I M
Looking at possibility getting fat removed from under armpits. After I had my son, a large fat bulge has been Impossible to get rid off. Please let me know about options and recovery times.
Thank you
Hi Tania,
No problem, I’ll have one of our consultants reach out to you via email for more details.
Thanks,
WD Staff