If you’ve achieved significant weight loss, congratulations on behalf of the Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates team! We recognize that weight loss can be a difficult journey, but often one filled with self-discovery that teaches you to put yourself first.
If you’ve completed the majority of your weight loss goals but are still dealing with fat around the abdomen, our experts recommend stomach fat removal. OKC’s Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates is your home for body-defining cosmetic procedures.
Keep reading this blog to learn about all of your stomach fat removal options at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates. Ready to start the next phase of your weight loss journey? Visit our website or give us a call to book your consultation with one of our expert surgeons.
Types of Stomach Fat
Before covering your surgical options for stomach fat removal, we must cover the different types of stomach fat. The two main types of stomach fat are subcutaneous fat and visceral fat.
Subcutaneous fat is the type of fat that is stored just beneath your skin’s surface. This fat can be felt when you pinch your skin and is found around the hips, butt, thighs, and belly.
Though everyone is born with subcutaneous fat, the amount you have is also determined by:
- Genetics
- Age
- Gender
- Diet
- Exercise
- Chronic illness
On the other hand, visceral fat is the type of fat that lives deep within your abdominal cavity. This fat surrounds organs like the stomach, liver, intestines, and more.
Both forms of fat play essential roles in a properly functioning body, but too much of either can cause serious health conditions. Additionally, too much subcutaneous fat can be an indicator that you have too much visceral fat.
Surgical Methods for Stomach Fat Removal
Those who’ve already embarked on their weight loss journey likely already know that healthy eating habits and exercise are the best ways to get rid of stomach fat. Unfortunately, subcutaneous stomach fat can be difficult to shed, even after making the right lifestyle changes.
If you’ve had success on your weight loss journey but are still dealing with frustrating belly fat, your best option is surgical stomach fat removal. OKC’s Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates offers a variety of procedure options to help you create your best figure yet.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that uses suction to remove fat from specific areas of the body. Also referred to as a lipoplasty, liposuction is useful in permanently removing fat deposits that won’t respond to diet and exercise.
After liposuction, your skin will mold itself to the new shape of the treated areas. This creates a contoured effect, especially if you have good skin tone and elasticity.
The best candidates for liposuction are those who have a slightly above-average weight but are otherwise in good overall health. We also recommend liposuction for those with healthy skin elasticity and good muscle tone.
It’s important to note that liposuction only addresses fat. Unlike other methods of stomach fat removal, liposuction cannot address excess, sagging skin. If you want to target loose skin around the abdomen, we recommend procedures like a body lift, excess skin removal, or Renuvion skin tightening.
Liposuction Methods
There are multiple types of liposuction that can be used for stomach fat removal. OKC’s Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates providers frequently utilize the VASER and power-assisted liposuction for fat removal.
Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance (VASER)
VASER liposuction uses a cannula with grooves and ultrasound waves to break up and remove fat cells. This type of liposuction is considered a more controlled and gentle form of fat removal.
Power-Assisted Liposuction
Power-assisted liposuction involves moving a cannula back and forth to break up fat. This cannula is particularly useful for creating precise fat reduction results.
The Liposuction Process
For your liposuction procedure, your surgeon will administer IV sedation or general anesthesia to minimize discomfort.
They will then make 1 small incision inside the belly button and 2 along the bikini line. This will give them access to the fatty areas between your skin and muscles.
From there, your surgeon will insert a cannula attached to a suction device into your incisions. This will allow your provider to break up, liquify, and suction out the fat in your desired treatment area.
Once your procedure is complete, your surgeon will close the incision sites with stitches and apply bandages.
Your liposuction procedure for stomach fat removal can take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours to complete. You can also expect 2 to 4 days of downtime and 1 to 2 weeks of recovery after.
Fat Transfer
If you’ve ever wished you could take unwanted fat from one area of your body and move it to another, you can! A fat transfer is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that uses your own fat to enhance other areas of the body.
Fat transfers are especially useful for stomach fat removal. OKC’s highly trained surgeons recommend taking fat from the abdomen and injecting it into the following areas:
- Breasts
- Buttocks
- Hands
- Hips
- Face
- Lips
- Cheeks
- Under the eyes
The best candidates for a fat transfer are those who are close to their ideal weight and are in good health. It’s also important that you have enough fat on your body, especially if you want to enhance a larger area like the hips or butt.
The Fat Transfer Process
Because fat transfers involve removing fat with liposuction, the process is quite similar to liposuction itself.
You will first have the opportunity to choose from IV sedation or general anesthesia to reduce pain and discomfort.
To start your procedure, your surgeon will make a few small incisions around the abdomen and insert a cannula. This cannula will be attached to a suction device to permanently remove fat cells from the abdomen.
Once the fat has been removed from your stomach area, your surgeon will suture the incisions closed and apply bandages.
From there, the unwanted fat will be placed in a centrifuge device to remove any impurities. Your surgeon will then use a syringe to strategically place the fat into your desired area to create subtle, natural-looking results.
Your fat removal procedure can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. Similar to liposuction, you can also expect 2 to 4 days of downtime and 1 to 2 weeks of recovery after.
Abdominoplasty
Don’t think liposuction or a fat transfer will help you achieve your ideal look for stomach fat removal? OKC’s Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates providers may recommend an abdominoplasty to create the significant fat removal results.
An abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes excess skin and fat to create a smoother abdomen area. Often referred to as a tummy tuck, this procedure will also tighten muscles in the abdominal wall for a firmer, flatter stomach.
Similar to liposuction and a fat transfer, the best candidates for an abdominoplasty are those who are already in good health. This procedure is also best for individuals who have excess, unresponsive fat around the abdomen but are otherwise able to maintain their ideal weight
We recommend this procedure for patients who want to achieve significant stomach fat removal, but also have realistic expectations for the procedure.
Tummy Tuck Variations
An abdominoplasty is not a one-size-fits all procedure. At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we can perform the following tummy tuck variations:
Complete Abdominoplasty
A complete or full abdominoplasty is the most commonly performed version of a tummy tuck. This procedure involves an incision made in the lower abdomen to remove excess skin and fat.
Circumferential Abdominoplasty
A circumferential or extended tummy tuck procedure changes the shape of your body from all sides. This version involves a longer incision that reaches from the front to the back of the body.
Partial Abdominoplasty
A partial or mini abdominoplasty is the least commonly performed version of a tummy tuck, as far fewer patients qualify for it. This procedure uses a shorter incision between the belly button and lower abdomen.
The Abdominoplasty Process
Your surgeon will first administer general anesthesia to minimize pain and discomfort throughout your stomach fat removal.
OKC’s surgeons will then make an incision in your abdominal area. The size of this incision will depend on the abdominoplasty variation you have chosen to undergo.
Front there, your surgeon will pull down and remove excess abdominal skin before making an opening for your navel. They will then move the navel into position and insert drainage tubes if necessary.
To finish off, your surgeon will close your incisions with sutures and apply bandages.
Your abdominoplasty will take approximately 90 minutes to complete, but could take longer if you are having an additional procedure done. After surgery, your provider will keep you for observation until your anesthetic wears off and you are approved for discharge.
Similar to liposuction and a fat transfer, you can also expect 2 to 4 days of downtime and 1 to 2 weeks of recovery after your abdominoplasty.
Book Your Procedure
At Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates, we understand just how demanding and all-consuming the weight loss journey can be. You deserve a body that matches the effort you’ve put into losing weight—even in areas where fat is stubborn.
We’re proud to offer liposuction, fat transfers, and an abdominoplasty for stomach fat removal. OKC is home to the surgeons who will stop at no end to help you create a body you feel confident in.
Ready to take this next step in your weight loss journey? Visit our website or give us a call to learn more about stomach fat removal.
Interested in learning about other cosmetic procedures for the body like stomach fat removal? OKC’s latest blog posts feature additional information on butt lifts, abdominoplasties, and fat transfers. Head on over to our website to learn more.
