It is possible to get rid of a buffalo hump, and you have choices about how you go about it. You can try a natural approach or a surgical intervention via liposuction. Natural approaches offer no guarantees and take time to work, but they allow you to avoid surgery. Many people opt to try natural hump reduction methods before opting for surgery. Surgery may be necessary, however, and offers a quick solution for those who don’t want to wait.
We often encounter patients who have questions about buffalo hump. Not surprisingly, they often center around alternative treatments that are rumored to get rid of a buffalo hump. Unfortunately, rumor is all they are. Here are some common ones:
It’s easy to get discouraged by all the rumored buffalo hump treatments that don’t work, but there are effective treatment options. You can absolutely have a buffalo hump removed, so don’t resign yourself to living with the problem if it bothers you. There are a few possible cures, and surgical intervention is always an option.
If you are overweight, shedding a few pounds may help with your buffalo hump. When you gain weight, your body must decide where to store the fat, and it can deposit it between your shoulder blades in a buffalo hump. If so, losing weight can reduce or eliminate the buffalo hump.
This approach is certainly worth a try, and losing excess weight will improve your overall health. There is no way, however, to target your weight loss to ensure that a buffalo hump is eliminated.
Certain medications can cause a buffalo hump, including some used to treat HIV/AIDS. Glucocorticoid medications like prednisone, dexamethasone, and hydrocortisone can also cause the issue when used long-term. Your doctor may be able to try different medications or reduce the dosage of certain drugs to help you if you develop a buffalo hump. Changing medication may reduce or eliminate the hump. In other cases, changing medications may not get rid of the hump, but it can ensure that a hump won’t return after it is surgically removed.
While we fully support trying a natural approach, liposuction is often required to remove a buffalo hump. Fortunately, this is an easy surgery with a short recovery period that is much less intense than other procedures. You may choose traditional liposuction, during which you will be placed under general anesthesia, or opt for awake liposuction, during which we will use only a local anesthetic. Awake liposuction allows for a faster recovery, but some patients find they are more comfortable with the idea of being asleep during surgery.
During both procedures, the unwanted fat in the hump is removed through small 3- to 4-mm incisions. Your surgeon will use a special wand called a cannula to siphon out the fat, recontouring and shaping the base of your neck to remove the unwanted bulge. We perform both surgeries on an outpatient basis, so you can go home the day of your procedure.
Buffalo hump removal is permanent, and the removed fat cells will not return. If your hump was caused by medication, however, taking the medicine again could create a new buffalo hump. It is important that you speak to your physician and make sure you can change your medication before undergoing buffalo hump removal. We can remove your hump, but we can’t change the way certain medications affect your body.
