Can an unsightly buffalo hump be corrected?

Have you talked with your doctor about your hump? This condition is typically associated with very specific causes and is therefore certainly worth getting checked out. Namely, Cushing's (it was described by Harvey Cushing in 1932) syndrome or disease (an excess of cortisol caused by a tumor), overuse of steroid medications (prescribed or not), extreme obesity, and use of certain medications to treat HIV.

If any of these are the culprit, treating the underlying condition is your best option.

Your doctor can perform a variety of tests in order to determine the source of the problem. However, there are plastic surgeons who can surgically reduce the size of the hump if it is truly bothersome - another reason to see your doctor, for a referral.

In addition to treating a hump, if it is Cushing's sydrome, the majority of Cushing's syndrome cases are caused by steroids. Therefore, the majority of cases are successfully treated by carefully tapering off the steroids that cause the symptoms. In cases of Cushing's disease, which is caused by a tumor, the disease can be successfully treated by surgery. Please see your own physician or medical adviser for effective treatment.