No matter how often you exercise or how carefully you watch what you eat, you may have pockets of excess fat beneath your chin, upper arms, breast, flanks, abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks or even knees.
If you would like to remove these stubborn, isolated fat deposits, Grand Rapids liposuction (also known as lipoplasty or liposculpting) at the Bengtson Center for Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery can help you reach that goal.
Our board-certified plastic surgeons — Dr. Brad Bengtson, Dr. David Alfonso and Dr. Narges Horriat — use liposuction techniques that are safe and state-of-the-art to help you achieve the slim, well-proportioned body you desire.
When you are ready to make a transformation, you deserve partners on your journey who you trust deeply to deliver the results you want.
The highly experienced team at The Bengtson Center for Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery is led by board-certified surgeons Dr. Brad Bengtson, Dr. David Alfonso and Dr. Narges Horriat. Our surgeons are regularly recognized by patients and colleagues alike for their commitment to innovation, compassionate patient care, and top-quality outcomes. Their work is supported by the thoughtful and passionate collaboration of the entire Bengtson team.
Has consistently been named one of the Best Doctors in America® since 1996 and recognized as Best Plastic Surgeon in Grand Rapids by Grand Rapids Magazine for the last 12 years.
With over two decades of experience, he is respected for his cutting-edge techniques and compassionate patient care. In addition to his work with patients, Dr. Bengtson travels globally to share his knowledge and innovative approaches with fellow plastic surgeons. He is passionate about delivering harmonious, natural-looking results that elevate rather than alter each patient’s unique aesthetic.
Watch Dr. Bengtson’s VideoHas extensive experience performing a range of surgical and non-surgical procedures, with a particular passion for body contouring and facial rejuvenation.
A careful listener and passionate practitioner, he has received numerous accolades, including recognition as a RealSelf Top Doctor since 2015. He also contributes to advancing techniques in the plastic surgery community through regular publications and lectures. Dr. Alfonso is a fluent Spanish speaker, which helps him provide exceptional communication and care to a broader range of patients.
Watch Dr. Alfonso’s VideoUnderstand her patient’s goals, motivations and desires and is always excited to partner with them to achieve safe and exceptional results.
Her philosophy is founded in individuality, enhancement of one’s own natural beauty and in helping her patients restore harmony between their physical body and their truest self. She is committed to excellence and dedicated to using her surgical expertise to help her patients feel strong, beautiful and confident.
Liposuction is a minimally-invasive surgical body contouring procedure that re-contours your body by removing excess fat deposits resistant to weight loss and fitness efforts.
The in-office procedure results in smoother, more proportionate curves in women and a more cut, sculpted look in men. Liposuction can also be used to collect fat for fat transfer augmentation procedures, such as fat transfer breast augmentation, facial fat transfer and the Brazilian butt lift (BBL). Liposuction often accompanies other surgical procedures such as facelifts and tummy tucks, but also is one of our most common stand-alone procedures.
Liposuction can reshape nearly any area of the body where fat tends to accumulate. Our Grand Rapids liposuction patients frequently choose the following areas:
We offer three leading liposuction techniques at the Bengtson Center.
Standard liposuction, also called tumescent liposuction, is the most commonly performed fat removal technique in the world. Before the procedure begins, your surgeon injects a tumescent solution (a mixture of saline, lidocaine and epinephrine) into the treatment area. The solution numbs the tissue, reduces bleeding and makes the fat easier to remove.
Your surgeon then inserts a thin, hollow tube called a cannula into the area to physically break up and suction out the fat cells. Tumescent liposuction is a reliable, time-tested method for addressing larger treatment areas like the abdomen and flanks.
Power-assisted liposuction (PAL) advances the standard technique by adding a mechanized cannula that vibrates or oscillates rapidly. The motion of the cannula helps break up fat cells more efficiently than manual movement alone. This allows your surgeon to use less physical force during the procedure, which may result in less bruising and a smoother recovery.
PAL can be particularly useful in areas where the tissue is more fibrous, such as the back and male chest.
Laser-assisted liposuction (LAL) uses laser energy to liquefy fat cells before they are suctioned out through the cannula. The cannula can be smaller and the suction can be gentler because liquefied fat is easier to remove from the area. There may be less bruising and swelling post-procedure as a result.
Laser liposuction has an additional benefit that tumescent and power-assisted liposuction do not. The heat from the laser may help stimulate collagen production in the surrounding tissues, which can produce a skin tightening effect as the area heals.
We don't believe any single technique is inherently better than the others. Our surgeons sometimes use more than one method during the same procedure, applying each where it will deliver the best result. Your surgeon will recommend an approach after evaluating you during your consultation.
Liposuction may be all that is needed to achieve your goals, or it may be one element of a plan tailored to produce your desired look. Some of the most common combinations at the Bengtson Center and Symmetry Med Spa include:
Skin tightening procedures pair very well with liposuction, since skin does not always conform on its own to new body contours generated by fat-reduction surgery or treatments. Your surgeon may recommend combining liposuction with a SkinTyte® treatment at Symmetry Med Spa if you want additional skin firming in the treated areas.
Reshaping disproportionate curves or reducing unwanted fat collections may not always be attained through weight loss and exercise alone. We help many of our liposuction patients sculpt their body features. It can dramatically improve the shape and proportion of your body and enhance your appearance and self-esteem, even if you are at or below your ideal body weight.
The Bengtson Center and Symmetry Med Spa are pleased to offer CoolSculpting and CoolSculpting Elite to Michigan patients who are interested in a safe, nonsurgical alternative to liposuction.
CoolSculpting is the first FDA-cleared procedure that involves using cool energy to destroy fat from various areas without surgery. Unlike traditional invasive surgical procedures, CoolSculpting is non-invasive, with no needles, no incisions, no anesthesia, and no recovery time!
Most of our Grand Rapids patients see a noticeable reduction of fat in the treated area after just one short visit, but you may appreciate even greater fat reduction with each additional treatment. Symmetry Med Spa has two separate units to shorten your treatment time by half.
Another option with a localized focus is Kybella, which is an injectable intended solely for treating a double chin. The active ingredient, deoxycholic acid, destroys fat cells by rupturing them, causing them to release the fat they hold into the body, where natural processes take over to eliminate it.
The Bengtson Center is a top choice for patients seeking the latest, most cutting-edge procedures for body contouring in Grand Rapids. Liposuction, CoolSculpting, and more are available for men and women seeking fat reduction and removal.
Women and men of various ages and from many circumstances choose to undergo this fat reduction procedure. The best candidates are patients who are close to their optimal weight but have isolated areas of fat. If you're interested in removing fat with liposuction, our Grand Rapids plastic surgeons can answer any questions you have and address your concerns during a consultation.
The following factors generally define good candidates for liposuction procedures:
Liposuction will result in weight loss — from a few to several pounds — due to the reduction of tissue. However, liposuction is not an alternative to a sensible exercise and weight-loss program. Following liposuction in Michigan, we advise our Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Birmingham patients to maintain their preoperative diet and exercise program to maintain optimal results.
1.Afterward, you will return to your home or, for our out-of-town guests, to one of the designated hotels conveniently located a short distance from our office.
2.Liposuction is most commonly performed on an outpatient basis, under general anesthesia. For smaller areas, it may be performed under local anesthesia with sedation.
3.Following your procedure you will experience swelling, potential bruising, and some soreness in the treated area. Recovery ranges from five to 10 days. Within one day following surgery, you will return to normal, light activity.
4.Results may be long lasting, but weight loss and gain or pregnancy can change your results, and normal aging and gravity may affect your outcomes.
5.You will need a capable adult with you for 24 hours after your release from the surgery center.
6.All surgeries carry the potential for risks, which will be fully discussed with you during your consultation.
7.Liposuction incisions are very small, often about a quarter inch, and they are placed so that they will not be visible while wearing clothing or swimsuits. During your consultation for liposuction, your Grand Rapids plastic surgeon will discuss the incision placement for your surgery.
To speak with Dr. Brad Bengtson, Dr. David Alfonso or Dr. Narges Horriat about liposuction in Michigan, contact our office today to schedule your appointment. Request your appointment online or call our office at (616) 691-9695
Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. If you have a significant amount of weight to lose before body contouring would be appropriate, our medical weight loss program may be a good first step. Many patients find that reaching their goal weight with medical support, then following up with liposuction for the finishing touches, gives them the most complete result.
The cost of liposuction varies depending on which area(s) and how many areas you choose to treat. The liposuction technique used and any additional procedures included will also affect the total.
We provide transparent, individualized pricing during your consultation. The full price of your procedure includes the surgeon's fee, anesthesia with a board-certified anesthesiologist, facility fees at our QUAD A-accredited surgical center and post-operative follow-up care.
We offer financing through PatientFi if you're interested in a monthly payment plan.
Liposuction is usually performed under general anesthesia, which means you'll be asleep for the procedure. For smaller treatment areas, local anesthesia with sedation may be an option, which allows you to remain comfortable without being fully under.
Your surgeon and one of the Bengtson Center's board-certified anesthesiologists will determine the most appropriate plan for you.
Most liposuction procedures take one to three hours. Your surgeon will give you a more precise estimate during your consultation, once your treatment plan is in place.
The fat cells removed during liposuction are permanently eliminated from your body. They cannot regrow in the treated area.
In many cases, the removed fat can be put to good use. During a fat transfer procedure, fat collected through liposuction is purified and reinjected into another area of the body to add volume. Common areas include the buttocks (a Brazilian butt lift), breasts and face.
The fat cells removed during the procedure are gone permanently, but liposuction does not remove 100% of the fat cells in the treated area. The fat cells that remain in the area can grow larger if you gain weight. This means that significant weight gain after liposuction can affect your results, though you may still retain the new proportions you gained through the procedure.
The best way to protect your results is to maintain a stable weight through consistent eating habits and regular physical activity. If you want additional support, our medical weight loss program can be a helpful complement to body contouring.
Liposuction results are permanent in the sense that the fat cells removed during the procedure will not regenerate. That said, your body will continue to change over time due to aging, hormonal shifts and fluctuations in weight. These factors can affect the overall appearance of your contours, even though the treated fat cells are no longer there.
Common temporary side effects after liposuction include swelling, bruising, numbness and soreness in the treated areas. These are expected and resolve over the weeks following your procedure.
More serious complications are rare but can include infection, fluid accumulation (seroma), contour irregularities, blood clots and reactions to the anesthesia.
At the Bengtson Center, all procedures are performed by board-certified plastic surgeons in our on-site, QUAD A-accredited New Vista Surgical Center with board-certified anesthesiologists. Our facility meets hospital-level safety standards for equipment, emergency preparedness and infection control.
You will not feel pain during the procedure itself, as it is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. Afterward, pain is typically most noticeable in the first two to three days and can be managed with prescribed medication. Most patients transition to over-the-counter pain relief within the first week, and many are surprised that the discomfort is less than they anticipated.
Most patients resume light activity the next day, return to desk work in one to two weeks, and resume exercise within four to six weeks.
During the first few days, plan to rest and have someone available to help you at home. Light walking is encouraged early on to promote circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots. You'll gradually increase your activity level as healing progresses.
Your surgeon will provide detailed post-operative instructions that are personalized to your treatment plan. In general, you can expect to wear a compression garment, keep your incision sites clean and dry, avoid strenuous activity until cleared and attend follow-up appointments so your surgeon can monitor your healing.
Yes. Compression garments are a standard and important part of liposuction recovery. You'll begin wearing your garment immediately after surgery and continue for several weeks (typically four to six). The garment helps reduce swelling, minimizes bruising, supports the tissues as they heal and encourages your skin to conform smoothly to your new contours.
You will notice a difference in your body shape shortly after surgery, but it takes time for your final results to emerge. Swelling peaks in the first one to two weeks and then gradually subsides over the following months. Most patients see noticeable improvement within four to six weeks and their final results between three and six months post-procedure.
Liposuction incisions are small (typically about a quarter of an inch) and your surgeon will place them in natural skin creases or areas that are concealed by most clothing and swimwear. In most cases, the scars fade significantly over time and become difficult to notice.
Absolutely. Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures for men. The most commonly requested treatment areas for male patients include the abdomen, flanks (love handles), chest (to treat gynecomastia) and neck/jawline. The Bengtson Center features a dedicated Men's Lounge, a discreet, comfortable environment designed with male patients in mind.
Are you ready to take the next step to a more beautiful you? Plastic Surgeons Dr. Bengtson, Dr. Alfonso and Dr. Horriat, along with the team at The Bengtson Center for Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery, provide advanced plastic surgery and cosmetic treatment for patients from Grand Rapids, Birmingham, Detroit, and Kalamazoo, Michigan. We specialize in breast augmentation, breast implants, and tummy tuck surgery, as well as laser hair removal, Micro-Needling, BOTOX Cosmetic, JUVÉDERM, and other dermal fillers. Results may vary from person to person.