The best treatment for a buffalo hump depends on its cause. If the hump is caused by excess fat rather than an underlying medical condition, treatments such as liposuction—and, in select cases, Kybella®—can improve its appearance. Because a buffalo hump can sometimes signal a hormonal or other medical disorder, it’s important to have it evaluated before pursuing cosmetic treatment.
What Is a Buffalo Hump?
A buffalo hump or widow’s hump is a term used to describe an extra fat pad behind your neck and between your shoulder blades. Plastic surgeons refer to this fat as the dorsocervical fat pad. This excess fat can create a rounded or prominent appearance at the base of the neck that many people find bothersome. It can be a cosmetic concern for many, but it may also be a possible sign of an underlying medical condition.
Modern life makes many people spend hours looking down and staring at a screen, either on our phones, work computers, or slouched on the sofa watching television. With this predisposition for poor posture and other factors, buffalo humps are becoming a more common concern.
What Causes a Buffalo Hump?
A hump behind the neck can be due to multiple factors, which may include:
- Genetics
- Poor posture, years of slouching may predispose one to accumulate fat in the posterior neck
- Excess cortisol hormone, Cushing’s syndrome, which may occur from a variety of causes, such as long-term steroid use
- Osteoporosis
- Weight gain
- Lipodystrophy from HIV medications
- Fat redistribution after body liposuction
What Are the Best Treatment Options for a Buffalo Hump?
The best treatment for a buffalo hump depends on what is causing the condition. Before pursuing cosmetic treatment, it’s important to see your primary care physician to rule out medical conditions, medication-related changes, or hormonal disorders that may be contributing to the fat pad. If necessary, your physician may recommend additional testing.
Once a buffalo hump has been determined to be caused primarily by excess fat rather than an underlying medical condition, cosmetic treatment may be an option. Liposuction is the most effective treatment for most patients, while Kybella® may be appropriate in select cases for those seeking a nonsurgical alternative.
Liposuction
Liposuction is the primary method for improving the appearance of the neck by removing excess fat. This procedure reduces fat and stimulates skin tightening over time. Buffalo hump liposuction can be performed in the office via local anesthesia. In some patients, the fat may be quite fibrous or dense and thus require an incision through overlying skin and soft tissues for surgical reduction.
What to expect after buffalo hump liposuction:
- Mild discomfort: Most patients experience only mild discomfort that can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. Prescription pain medication is typically needed only during the first couple of days, if at all.
- Swelling: The majority of swelling resolves within a few days or so after surgery; however, the final contour improvement may take several months to become apparent.
- Downtime: Most patients return to work within about 1 week.
- Activity: Avoid strenuous exercise and other vigorous activities for at least 2 weeks or as directed by your surgeon.
- Results: You may notice an immediate reduction in the size of the fat pad, with continued improvement over the following weeks and months as swelling subsides and the skin contracts.
Kybella®
Kybella is the newest method to reduce neck fat. It has been FDA approved to reduce fat under the chin to improve a double chin (i.e. submental fullness). However, plastic surgeons have used Kybella in other areas, such as the posterior neck, to reduce excess fat for those who don’t want liposuction. Read more about this nonsurgical fat reduction in our blog post Kybella vs. neck liposuction.
Patients have been happy with buffalo hump treatment with cosmetic surgery. Keep in mind, however, that fat can reaccumulate, especially with weight gain, and a procedure may need to be repeated.
Can a Buffalo Hump Go Away Without Surgery?
Whether a buffalo hump can go away without surgery depends on its underlying cause. If the hump is related to poor posture, improving your posture and strengthening the muscles that support your neck and upper back may help improve its appearance. When weight gain contributes to excess fat in the area, maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise may also reduce its prominence.
However, lifestyle changes alone often aren’t enough to eliminate a buffalo hump caused by a localized fat deposit. Likewise, if the hump is associated with a medical condition or certain medications, treating the underlying cause is the first priority. If the fat pad persists after medical evaluation and conservative measures, cosmetic procedures such as liposuction may provide effective improvement.
Can Exercise Get Rid of a Buffalo Hump?
If excess body fat is contributing to a buffalo hump, exercise and weight loss may help reduce its appearance. However, they typically won’t eliminate a localized fat pad or a buffalo hump caused by an underlying medical condition. If the hump persists despite healthy lifestyle changes, a medical evaluation can help determine the cause and whether cosmetic treatment may be appropriate.
Discover Which Treatment Is Right for You
If you’re bothered by a buffalo hump or excess fat behind the neck, the first step is determining what’s causing it. If a medical condition is not the cause, Dr. Chobaki can recommend the most appropriate treatment to help improve your neck contour and achieve your aesthetic goals. Request a consultation or call our office at (202) 800-2085 to get started.
This post was originally published in September 2017 and updated in July 2026.
I am interested in kybella or Lipo for my buffalo hump. What are the costs?
Thank you for your question. Many patients consider liposuction or Kybella for the neck, i.e. double chin or buffalo hump. Non-plastic surgeons typically only offer nonsurgical treatments, while plastic surgeons can offer both to patients. Kybella is an office procedure involving multiple injections over time to slowly dissolve fat, while liposuction removes fat initially and tightens skin gradually over time. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Costs will vary among plastic surgery offices. Read more about Kybella vs. Liposuction in another blog post on this website.
How much does the buffalo hump procedure cost and where can I get it done?
Thank you for reading the blog. Buffalo hump treatment cost will vary based on multiple factors, such as cost of plastic surgery involves a variety of factors:
Surgeon’s fee for performing the procedure
Hospital, operating room, or facility charges
Anesthesia fees
Cost of supplies or implants
Laboratory, radiology, or testing fees
Buffalo hump treatment may occur in the office via local anesthesia. Contact the office with further questions.
Best,
Dr. Chaboki
Hi,
Will the removal of a buffalo hump either through lypo or Kybella be covered by HSA if the excess fat is causing spine issues?
Thank you for reading the blog. Neck hump treatment and liposuction from our office is cosmetic.
Best,
Dr. Chaboki
Hello I wanted to know how much this procedure would cost me
Thank you for reading the blog! Information on procedure costs can be found under Financing and Fees
Best,
Dr. Chaboki
Liposuction (or liposculpture) is one of the most popular procedures in plastic surgery. It involves the removal of excess fat tissue with a small tube, known as a cannula.
thank you so much for given informative information about causes buffalo hump
How long can non surgical treatments take to reduce the hump?
Thank you for reading the blog!
Nonsurgical treatment to reduce superficial fat typically requires multiple treatments, with each treatment separated by several weeks. Office consultation is required to help determine appropriate options.
Best,
Good day
How much does the buffalo hump and neck fat removal procedure cost ,and where can I get it done? I am in Waterford city .
Thank you for reading the blog!
Buffalo humps may be treated with liposuction, if there is sufficient fat and physical therapy or other conservative measures don’t work. Liposuction for neck fat is common procedure, which is sometimes combined with chin augmentation or facelift surgery to improve and define the jawline. Read more about plastic surgery pricing on our website.
I”m interested in prices for Kybella and liposuction for a Buffalo hump.
If you haven’t already, please contact the office for further information! Thank you for reading the blog!