Body confidence ebbs and flows with the seasons of life. Whether you’ve just had a baby, gained some weight, or simply gotten older, self-confidence looks different at all ages and stages.
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we want every patient who walks through our doors to feel great in the skin they’re in. For many, that sense of self-confidence starts with surgical body contouring in OKC.
Keep reading this blog to learn about all of the body contouring procedures available at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates and what sets our team of experts apart. Ready to speak with one of our surgeons? Visit our website or give us a call to schedule your consultation.
What is body contouring?
Body contouring in OKC is a type of cosmetic surgical procedure that reshapes and resizes different areas of the body. Many procedures fall under this surgical category, including those that:
- Tighten excess skin
- Eliminate unwanted fat
- Move fat from one area to another
- Create stronger body contours
Depending on your aesthetic needs, your surgeon may also recommend you combine multiple body contouring procedures for enhanced results.
What procedures are available at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates?
With decades of experience with body contouring in OKC, our expert surgeons can help you sculpt the figure of your dreams.
Here’s an overview of the procedures we can perform at our practice:
Excess Skin Removal
Excess skin removal is a procedure that targets areas of loose, sagging skin that hang off the body. This procedure is best for patients whose skin has lost its elasticity, especially those who have recently given birth or achieved significant weight loss.
There are many reasons why a patient may want to have their excess skin removed, including:
- Hygiene – Excess skin can cause infections, fungus growth, and rashes.
- Clothing – Finding clothing that fits over sagging skin can be difficult.
- Physical activity – Sagging skin can make physical activity uncomfortable.
- Self-confidence – Getting rid of loose skin and creating sharper body contours can boost self-esteem.
There are many variations of excess skin removal surgery. Your Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates surgeon can target sagging skin in the following areas:
- Arms
- Abdomen
- Breasts
- Buttocks
- Thighs
We recommend consulting your surgeon to learn which type of excess skin removal procedure best suits your unique aesthetic needs.
Procedure Process
If you and your surgeon decide that excess skin removal is right for you, you’ll first need to maintain your goal weight for at least 6 months. Your surgeon may also ask you to commit to a healthy lifestyle and avoid tobacco products.
It’s also important that you have realistic expectations of what excess skin removal can and cannot do. This procedure is not a weight loss solution; it’s a tool for creating your best body after you’ve lost the weight.
To start your excess skin removal procedure, your surgeon will make an incision in your treatment area to cut away at the loose skin. From there, they will insert a drainage tube before closing your incisions and covering them with dressings.
Depending on your specific excess skin removal procedure, your surgery may need to be completed at a hospital and require an overnight stay. Excess skin removal often takes place in stages, so you may need multiple procedures to achieve your desired results.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a procedure that uses suction to precisely remove fat from different parts of the body. Among other areas, this procedure commonly used for body contouring in OKC targets fat in the:
- Stomach
- Hips
- Thighs
- Arms
- Buttocks
Also referred to as lipoplasty, liposuction works best for patients who have a significant amount of body fat in specific areas, but are otherwise at a stable weight. Liposuction also removes fat from areas of the body that don’t respond well to diet and exercise.
That said, it’s important to note that, like excess skin removal, liposuction is not a weight loss method or alternative. It is best to first lose weight through diet and exercise before committing to liposuction.
Procedure Process
To prepare for your liposuction procedure, you’ll first meet your surgeon during a comprehensive consultation. At this time, your surgeon will ask about your aesthetic goals, medications you’re taking, and previous weight loss attempts to determine if liposuction is right for you.
If your surgeon decides that liposuction can target your stubborn areas of fat, the two of you will begin creating your personalized procedure plan.
For your procedure, your surgeon will make an incision in the treatment area. Depending on the size of your treatment area, your surgeon will use one of the following liposuction techniques.
- Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance (VASER) Liposuction – Uses a cannula with grooves and ultrasound waves to gently break up and remove fat cells.
- Power-Assisted Liposuction – Moves a cannula back and forth to precisely break up areas of unwanted fat.
Your surgeon will determine which method of liposuction will help you best achieve your aesthetic goals during your initial consultation.
Finally, your surgeon will finish off your procedure by removing the cannula, closing off your incisions, and applying bandages.
In the weeks and months after your procedure, your remaining fat and skin around the treatment area will settle into position. At this point, your surgeon may recommend excess skin removal surgery to further shape your and contour your body.
Fat Transfer
If you’ve ever wished you could move the fat from one area of your body to another, a fat transfer for body contouring in OKC could be right for you. A fat transfer is a cosmetic procedure that removes fat from one area of the body using liposuction and injects it into another.
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we can remove fat from the:
- Belly
- Hips
- Thighs
- Buttocks
And can inject it into the:
- Breasts
- Buttocks
- Hips
- Face
Many of our patients like fat transfers because they create natural-looking volume without using fillers or implants.
Similar to excess skin removal and liposuction, a fat transfer is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. The best candidates for a fat transfer are close to their ideal weight but have enough fat in their body to use to enhance other areas.
Procedure Process
At your initial consultation, your surgeon may ask about your weight loss history to determine if you can maintain a stable weight and sustain your fat transfer results. If your surgeon decides that a fat transfer is right for you, they will then begin planning your procedure.
For the procedure, your surgeon will use a liposuction cannula to remove your stubborn areas of fat. They will then place that fat into a centrifuge, where it will be purified and later injected into your desired treatment area.
Bruising, swelling, and soreness are common side effects associated with fat transfers. These symptoms will subside in the days and weeks following your procedure.
You’ll need to wear a compression garment throughout your recovery per the instructions provided by your surgeon to support optimal healing and results. We recommend wearing this garment, following all recovery guidance, and attending your follow-up appointments.
It’s important to note that while the results from a fat transfer are permanent, not all fat cells survive the procedure. It takes approximately 6 months for the injected fat cells to develop a new blood supply and for you to see your final results.
You may need multiple fat transfer sessions to achieve your desired results. This will depend heavily on your treatment area and how well you maintain a stable weight. You can expect multiple fat transfer surgeries if your goal is to enhance larger areas like the buttocks or breasts.
Additional Body Contouring Procedures
Here are a few more surgical options for body contouring in OKC:
- Renuvion skin tightening – Tightens the fibro septal network beneath the skin’s surface to create a sculpted appearance. Involves less downtime and scarring than liposuction alone.
- Tummy tuck – Removes excess fat, skin, and tissue in the lower abdomen for a smoother stomach.
- Body lift – Uses a unique combination of body contouring procedures to sculpt your figure based on your individual goals.
- Thigh lift – Target excess skin and cellulite for smoother thighs and a shapelier body.
- Butt lift – Trims sagging skin and raises the gluteal muscles for a firmer, more youthful backside.
- Mommy makeover – Combines a variety of body contouring treatments to help mothers recreate their pre-pregnancy body.
Self-Confidence Starts Here
The road to better self-confidence starts with body contouring in OKC, and the Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates team will support you through every step of the treatment process!
Total body confidence is only a few clicks away. Visit our website or give our team a call to schedule your initial consultation.
Want to learn more about other body contouring procedures like a mini tummy tuck or butt lifts? Head over to our blog for more information.
