1) Your main concerns (as I understand them) ✅
- You've had surgery before and hated the results (shape/asymmetry/skin laxity) and had slow/complicated healing.
- Your fear is not the downtime as much as:
- Poor shape / unevenness
- Long healing
- Visible / ugly scars (especially for a back lift)
- You want clear, direct answers and the ability to decide confidently.
2) Important limits on what I can conclude from the photos ⚠️
From the images you shared, I can comment on scar placement and early appearance—but I cannot reliably predict your exact outcome.
Why?
- Social media before/after posts are curated (best lighting, best examples, early/late timing varies).
- The photos you shared of his back-lift scar look like early healing (pink/red, not "final scar").
- Scar quality depends heavily on your biology (tension, skin type, genetics, healing speed), not just the surgeon.
So: the photos are useful for style + incision placement, not for guaranteeing how your scar will look months later.
3) Photo-based assessment of his work (focus: back-lift scar) 📸
3.1 What I see in the back-lift "after" image you shared
Scar location:
- The back-lift incision appears placed horizontally across the upper back, roughly where many people can hide it under a bra band / higher bikini line (depending on your clothing).
Scar appearance (in that photo):
- It looks pink and still "active," which is normal early on.
- It appears mostly thin, but not perfectly straight—there is a slight waviness/irregularity along parts of the line.
- That waviness can happen from tension, early swelling, or how the skin settles in early healing.
- Many scars look their "worst" in the early months, then flatten and lighten over time.
Contour effect:
- The "after" back photo suggests improved smoothness of the upper back compared with the marked "before" image.
- This matches what back lifts usually do well: remove excess skin/folds that energy devices and liposuction can't fully fix.
3.2 What I see in the tummy-tuck style "after" image you shared
- The lower abdominal scar appears low and fairly even, still red/pink (again consistent with early healing).
- Nothing in that single image screams "bad suturing," but one photo is not enough to judge consistency.
3.3 Bottom line from the photos
Neutral take: The scar placement shown is typical for a back lift, and the scars shown look like normal early-phase scars (pink/red). The line quality looks acceptable in the context of early healing, though not "invisible" in that stage.
4) Online reputation snapshot (reviews + licensing) 🔎
4.1 Licensing / being listed as a physician (baseline credibility check)
- The Collège des médecins du Québec directory returns "Izadpanah, Ali" with permit number 16140 in Montréal. (cmq.org)
(This doesn't guarantee outcomes, but it confirms he's in the provincial physician directory.)
4.2 Review platforms (what they broadly suggest)
RealSelf (patient review platform):
- His RealSelf profile shows a 4.0 rating with 40 reviews (as displayed on the page). (RealSelf.com)
- There are both very positive and very negative patient experiences posted.
- Example of a very positive back-lift/body-lift experience posted on RealSelf: (RealSelf.com)
- Example of a very negative BBL/lipo experience posted on RealSelf (complaints about shape + lumpiness): (RealSelf.com)
- Example of a negative breast lift/implant replacement review (complaints about outcome + aftercare/communication): (RealSelf.com)
Facility/location reviews (Westmount Medical Institute / 1304 Ave Greene):
- A Birdeye page aggregating Google reviews shows 4.4 stars with 18 reviews for Westmount Medical Institute at 1304 Ave Greene. (Birdeye)
- Important nuance: those facility reviews include experiences with different doctors/surgeries, so they're more about the site/team experience than a precise score for one surgeon.
4.3 What I'd conclude from reviews (carefully)
- Not "all good" and not "all bad." There are strong positives and strong negatives.
- The risk for you (given your history + anxiety about healing) is not just the surgery—it's whether you get:
- a surgeon who sets very clear expectations
- a team that provides high-touch post-op management
- a plan for how problems are handled if they happen
5) Back lift scars: what's realistic + how to make them as invisible as possible 🎯
5.1 Realistic scar timeline (most people)
Scars don't go from "fresh" to "invisible" quickly. Typical phases:
- 0–6 weeks: incision seals; redness starts; swelling + firmness common
- 6 weeks–3 months: scar often becomes more red/pink and firmer (this is the phase where people panic)
- 3–6 months: begins flattening; redness slowly decreases
- 6–12+ months: most fading and softening happens here
- 12–18 months: near-final appearance (some people keep improving beyond)
Key point: "Not visible after months" is sometimes possible, but not guaranteed, especially for long back-lift scars where there is movement and tension.
5.2 What determines whether a back-lift scar stays thin vs gets thick/wide
High-impact factors (biggest drivers):
- Tension on the wound (movement, stretching, posture, early exercise)
- Your scar biology (hypertrophic/keloid tendency, inflammation response)
- Complications (seroma, infection, wound separation)
- Sun exposure (darkening)
- Aftercare consistency (taping/silicone/compression)
Why back-lift scars can widen:
- The back moves constantly (twisting, reaching, posture changes), and the incision can sit in an area that experiences traction.
5.3 Scar-minimizing plan (very practical) ✅
This is the best "stack" to reduce visibility. You can literally use this as your checklist.
A) Pre-op (starting now)
- Ask to see healed scars: Request 6–12 month scar photos of back lifts specifically (not just "after at 6 weeks").
- Tell them your history: "My last healing was slow and complicated; I'm concerned about scars and asymmetry."
- Nutrition: Aim for strong protein intake; consider checking basic labs if your surgeon recommends (iron, B12, vitamin D, etc.).
- No nicotine (you already don't smoke—huge advantage 👏).
- Medication note: You're on sertraline 50 mg—don't stop it on your own. Just ensure anesthesia/surgeon are aware.
B) Surgery technique questions (because they matter)
Ask directly:
- "Do you use a layered closure to reduce tension?"
- "Do you use deep sutures + skin glue/tape (e.g., Prineo) to reduce scar widening?"
- "How do you minimize seroma risk?" (drains? quilting/progressive tension sutures?)
These are high-value questions because seroma/tension are scar killers.
C) Post-op: first 6–8 weeks (this is where scar quality is won or lost)
- Follow activity restrictions hard. This is the #1 way to prevent widening.
- Compression garment exactly as instructed.
- Avoid friction (bra band rubbing directly on the incision early can irritate it).
- Keep incision protected: once fully closed and cleared by surgeon:
- Silicone tape or silicone gel daily
- Many surgeons like paper tape for tension support early (ask which they prefer).
D) Months 2–6 (optimize fading)
- Silicone continues (often 8–12+ weeks total, sometimes longer).
- Sun protection: SPF + keep covered (UV can permanently darken scars).
- Scar massage only when surgeon says the incision is stable (helps pliability).
E) If the scar starts thickening or staying very red
Early intervention matters. Ask about:
- Steroid injections (for hypertrophic scars)
- Laser options (often used for redness/texture)
- Silicone + taping intensification
- Microneedling / fractional resurfacing later (timing depends on healing)
Reality check: Even with "perfect" care, a back-lift scar is usually a thin line long-term—not always invisible, but often much less noticeable and strategically placed.
6) Option 1 vs Option 2 (the core decision) 🧭
Based on your quote screenshots, you're weighing:
- Option 1: Back Lift (skin excision)
- Option 2: Lipo 360 + energy tightening (J-Plasma/Renuvion +/- VASER)
Quick comparison
| Topic |
Option 1 — Back Lift |
Option 2 — Lipo + J-Plasma |
| Main benefit |
Strongest skin tightening + fold removal |
Moderate tightening; less invasive |
| Scar trade-off |
Long visible scar (but can be placed to hide) |
Tiny access incisions only |
| Best for |
True loose skin/folds that bother you in clothes |
Mild–moderate laxity with decent skin elasticity |
| Biggest risk to your goal |
Scar quality (widening/thickening) |
Not enough tightening → disappointment |
| Your "fear profile" fit |
Harder emotionally if you're scar-phobic |
Risk of "not enough change," which you've already experienced |
My "straight answer" logic
- If your top priority is maximum tightening and you can accept a scar hidden in clothing → back lift usually gives the most reliable tightening.
- If your top priority is minimal visible scarring and you can accept that results may be subtle/moderate → lipo + J-Plasma is the scar-sparing route, but it may not fully fix true laxity.
Given you've already been disappointed by results before: Option 2 carries a higher risk of "I went through surgery and still hate it" if your issue is truly skin excess rather than fat.
7) Downtime + return to intense Pilates/cardio (practical expectations) ⏱️
This varies by surgeon and by whether you combine procedures, but typical planning logic is:
Back lift (alone) — common recovery pattern
- Days 1–7: soreness/tightness; limited reaching/twisting
- Week 2: many people can do light life/admin work, but still stiff
- Weeks 4–6: gradual return to light cardio
- Weeks 6–8: Pilates often starts gently (depends on extent + healing)
- Weeks 8–12: "intense" Pilates + harder cardio is more realistic
For best scar outcome: treat the first 6–8 weeks as "scar protection mode" (minimize stretching, pulling, aggressive movement). That's where widening happens.
If you combine back lift + liposuction
- Expect more swelling, more fatigue, more "recovery tax," and sometimes a longer period before you feel normal.
8) Should you do back lift + liposuction together? (risk/benefit) ⚖️
Potential upside:
- One anesthesia, one recovery period, and potentially better overall contour harmony.
Potential downside (especially relevant to you):
- Longer surgery time + more tissue trauma → can increase swelling and sometimes raises the risk of:
- seroma
- wound healing delays
- scar issues (tension + inflammation)
Given your history of slow/complicated healing: A staged plan can be worth discussing (do one, heal fully, then decide on the next). It's not "better" universally, but it can be "safer for predictability" for someone who fears poor healing.
9) What I'd do in your shoes (simple, non-cringe, high-control plan) ✅
If your biggest fear is scars + another disappointment:
- Ask for 6–12 month back-lift scar photos of patients with a similar skin type/tone and similar laxity.
- Ask exactly: "Where will my scar sit relative to my bra/bikini line?" (mark it on your body in consult).
- Get a written post-op scar protocol from the clinic (tape/silicone timeline).
- Clarify: seroma prevention plan + drain strategy.
- Ask: what happens if I heal slowly again? Who do I contact? How fast do you see me?
- If scar fear is extreme: consider Option 2 first only if you would truly be okay with a moderate improvement (not dramatic).
- If you need dramatic tightening and you'll regret anything subtle: Option 1 (back lift) is more "direct," but you must accept the scar trade.
10) Key questions to ask at your in-person assessment (copy/paste) 📝
- "Can you show me healed (6–12 month) back-lift scars—NOT early results?"
- "Where exactly will my scar fall with my bra/bikini? Please mark it."
- "What closure method do you use to reduce tension and widening?"
- "How do you prevent seromas—drains, quilting sutures, compression plan?"
- "What's your plan if I show signs of slow healing again?"
- "When can I start: walking / light cardio / Pilates / intense workouts?"
- "What scar care protocol do you recommend: tape vs silicone vs both—and when?"
- "What are your most common reasons for revision after a back lift?"
- "If I'm unhappy at 6 months, what's the revision pathway and cost structure?"
- "Given my history, would you recommend staging procedures rather than combining?"
Notes on reviews (how to use them without spiraling) 🧠
- Reviews show mixed experiences, including strong negative posts and strong positive posts.
- The smartest way to use reviews is not "is he good or bad," but:
- Do the negative themes relate to my exact surgery (back lift) and my exact fears (aftercare, scar issues, accountability)?
- Can I confirm the clinic's post-op access and problem-solving process?
Final takeaway (clear & direct) ✅
- From the photos you shared, his back-lift scar looks like a normal early scar: visible and pink, with some waviness but not obviously "botched." It's placed in a way that's often concealable.
- No one can promise "invisible" scars in months, but you can dramatically improve the odds of a thin, low-notice scar with:
- tension control + strict early activity limits
- silicone/taping
- fast treatment if it thickens
- Option 1 (Back Lift) is the most reliable for meaningful tightening but demands scar acceptance.
- Option 2 (Lipo + J-Plasma) protects you from a long scar but risks not being enough, which matters a lot given your past disappointment.
If you want, paste exactly what you're trying to fix (upper back roll? lower back? bra-line bulge? loose skin only when bending?), and I'll tailor the Option 1 vs 2 recommendation even tighter to your anatomy and goals—still in a clean "report" format.