Athenix Body Sculpting Institute, a respected body sculpting and plastic surgery clinic based in Aliso Viejo, California, gifted Kayla Kelley with aesthetic surgery to remove excess skin after her inspiring weight loss journey. The prestigious plastic surgery center, with offices in California, Washington, and Oregon, continues its mission to uplift women through its innovative #AthenixGivesBack campaign.
Athenix launched the #AthenixGivesBack campaign in 2019, inviting people across the country to nominate deserving individuals for aesthetic surgery. The campaign’s goal is to positively transform the lives of different individuals each year by providing aesthetic or plastic surgery that would otherwise be difficult or impossible for the recipient to afford. Doctors and surgeons at the Institute donate their time and expertise, including a consultation and the procedure.
The Institute announced on its Facebook page, “We have an update on our lovely #AthenixGivesBack recipients! All four recipients have had their consultations and scheduled surgery dates for 2022! Each of these empowering women has an extraordinary story! If you haven’t already, check out their page and give them a follow!”
Weight Loss Inspired by Love of Family
2021 recipient Kayla Kelley lost an impressive 136 pounds after discovering her excess weight meant she couldn’t be a living donor when her child was ill. In response, she devoted herself to becoming healthier in order to be the best parent she could be and have the energy she needed as a mom. The results were impressive, but Kelley ended up with loose skin that made it difficult to wear clothing that fit well. She often suffered from rashes due to her excess skin chafing and rubbing.
Kelley was nominated by her close friend Amanda, who admired her dedication to losing weight and getting healthier. The ketogenic diet and exercise were part of Kelley’s plan, but nothing could rid her of the loose folds of skin left after the impressive weight loss.
“Sometimes, you need to hit rock bottom to have an awakening,” explained Kelley. “My progress over the past two years is a testament to what inner strength and consistency can accomplish, physically, emotionally, and mentally. While I have always considered my loose skin a badge of honor, I’m ready to put this dark chapter of my life behind me and start with a clean slate. I’m humbled and grateful to Athenix Body Sculpting Institute for the opportunity to reshape my future, and I’m incredibly excited to see the results.”
Athenix CEO Stresses Importance of Positive Body Image
Athenix Body Sculpting Institute CEO James Haefner explains the importance of positive body image for individuals facing life-altering challenges. “Kayla’s story was inspiring and resonated with us as the perfect examples of why we established the #AthenixGivesBack program. Our plastic surgeons work every year with people who have great value and are beautiful on the inside but may not feel their external appearance reflects their inner selves or their successes. We strive to remedy that through our work as aesthetic surgeons.
“Social media was one catalyst for the establishment of the program,” Haefner continues. “We always read the responses to our videos and social media postings to learn and grow. We noticed that many women longed to have plastic surgery or body sculpting to boost self-confidence or help them cope with some type of physical limitation. Some of them couldn’t afford it. Our thought was that these women deserved the chance to transform their lives by transforming their bodies. We’re very proud of the #AthenixGivesBack program. We plan to continue granting these opportunities every year to deserving, inspiring women from all walks of life.”
Body Positivity for Nominee and Nominator
Through #AthenixGivesBack, one individual is chosen to receive an aesthetic surgery. In addition to the chosen nominee, the individual nominating them also receives free services, which can range from a mommy makeover to a 360-degree tummy tuck to remove excess skin. In 2020, over 10,000 individuals were nominated for the Athenix Gives Back program, highlighting the importance of plastic and aesthetic surgery for women who have been hailed as inspirational. Recognizing the importance of acknowledging these women’s contributions and giving them power over their bodies, Athenix plans to continue with the program moving into the future.
Athenix Body Sculpting Institute is a full-service plastic and aesthetic surgical clinic offering a full range of surgical and noninvasive aesthetic procedures. Services include body contouring, augmentation, liposuction, revision, injections, and weight loss surgery. Athenix has Portland, Seattle, Fresno, Los Angeles, and Orange County locations. For more information, visit Athenix Body.
