Nonsurgical Double Chin and Body Fat Reduction Treatment in Grand Rapids. Got a bulge that has to go? There's a fast, nonsurgical way to remove stubborn fat with minimal effort and little to no subsequent downtime: Kybella. Grand Rapids' Bengtson Center now offers the injectable cosmetic, approved by the FDA as a double-chin treatment.
It is also used by our experienced Aesthetic Experts and Master Injectors to slim down other areas around the body in what are known as "off-label" uses.
That's because there are many places where fat can accumulate (hello, thighs!), but only a few ways to get rid of it from where it's not wanted (such as that pesky area below the chin). Dieting and exercise work, but sometimes only to a point. Certain areas may slim down, while others appear entirely untouched.
Liposuction is an option, since physically removing fat from the body is an effective solution, but not everyone wants to undergo surgery and deal with the associated recovery period. That’s what makes Kybella so appealing: No incisions, no sutures, no post-surgical recovery.
Patients interested in Kybella should note that Dr. Brad Bengtson was among the first to offer the injectable in West Michigan. The Bengtson Center is always seeking to promote beauty and health through the latest technological and medical breakthroughs and advances, providing current and safe treatments and procedures that deliver consistent, safe and noticeable results.
Kybella is a prescription cosmetic with deoxycholic acid as its active ingredient. That chemical is found naturally in the human body, where it helps to break down fat as a part of everyday dietary processes.
The active molecule serves much the same function in Kybella, which, once injected, specifically targets the fat cells there to destroy them. Deoxycholic acid breaks down the cell membranes as part of a cycle known as cytolysis, sending the released fat to be processed and eliminated from the body. Since the fat cells are removed through destruction—not just reduced in size—they can no longer accumulate new fat, making this an effective method for a long-term change. No re-treatment is expected to be necessary once patients achieve their desired results. By contrast, fat cells that shrink with diet and exercise remain where they are. If an increase in calories or a decrease in physical activity leads to weight gain, the cells can swell again, re-creating the unwanted double chin or body bulge.
Feel confident at every angle with Kybella
Kybella is a non-surgical injectable that treats submental fullness or fat deposits under the chin. Patients see results after two or four sessions. Grand Rapids Kybella treatments can be performed during a lunch break.
The problem of a double chin isn't tied to one particular cause. Men and women alike can develop submental fullness as they gain weight due to diet, lack of exercise, and other conditions. It may also appear because of genetics or as a result of physical changes chalked up to natural aging.
No matter the cause of the double chin, Kybella can reduce unwanted fat cells. Note that the treatment is intended only for cosmetic contouring, not as a strategy for weight loss. Any similar nonsurgical or surgical fat-reduction method should be treated only as an aesthetic tactic.
Some patients find that the problem beneath their chin is also due to loose skin, which generally hangs loose but can also create an unflattering bulge when they look down. This skin laxity may be in addition to excess fat, or be a concern all on its own. In either case, treatments are available to address it.
Heredity and aging can also contribute to pockets of fat that stand out on the body, such as bulges at the armpit or on the mid-thigh.
These are the "pooches" that can be so annoyingly visible when trying on a swimsuit. Since Kybella must be injected with care and precision, it is best used on these small areas to refine a silhouette and better define areas where stubborn fat obscures the lean lines or even developed muscles beneath.
Parts of the body with large collections of fat cells, such as the overall belly, are better treated by CoolSculpting or liposuction, though Kybella can be used on love handles or to reveal a hard-earned six-pack. Just remember that any contouring treatment or procedure at the Bengtson Center should be chosen for its aesthetic results and not as a weight-loss strategy. Kybella is known for its ability to shrink a double chin, but in the hands one of our Aesthetic Experts at the Bengtson Center, it can also be used to improve definition and reduce stubborn pockets of fat all over the body.
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Every Grand Rapids Kybella treatment has its beginning in a consultation, at which the doctor will discuss your aesthetic goals and develop an agreed-upon plan to help you achieve them. A simple exploration of the area will reveal whether there's indeed enough fat there for the injectable treatment to be effective.
The injection process itself takes 20 to 30 minutes, and the overall treatment regimen may involve two to four sessions, each spaced about a month apart, though some patients have completed six sessions. The nature of deoxycholic acid means it can dissolve all types of cells, so it is important to choose an injector with the education, experience, and eye for detail necessary for achieving safe, aesthetically pleasing results. Your injector at the Bengtson Center will carefully place the incisions with precision. For the submental area, that means being mindful of your overall face shape, neck anatomy, the extent of the unwanted fat, the desired ultimate look, and more.
Training is key, and any of our injectors invite you to ask questions to learn about their background and history with cosmetic treatments in general, and Kybella specifically. After receiving Kybella Grand Rapids patients report only minimal discomfort and post-treatment pain. Most people return to their typical daily activities, including work, just a day or two after their treatment. There are no particular aftercare instructions for our Grand Rapids Kybella patients, beyond taking good care of yourself and watching as any swelling or bruising fade. Results should be noticeable within weeks, with the fat reduction becoming increasingly apparent as treatments continue.
While Kybella is quite popular at the Bengtson Center, it is not the only option available to men and women who want to change the look of their face or body.
In terms of fat reduction, CoolSculpting can chill away the unwanted fat cells that make up a double chin or body bulge. A special applicator, known as the CoolMini, is designed specifically for the neck area, where it can selectively impact the fat there. Other applicators allow for a focus on the thighs or flanks. Like Kybella, there are no incisions required, results will appear gradually over time, and multiple sessions may be required. For some patients who want to change their profile, the fat reducing power of Kybella may not be enough to create slimmer neck contours. Loose skin can be left behind after fat bulges diminish, or sagging may develop on its own due to genetics and aging, creating a wattle-like look known as "turkey neck." Ultherapy uses ultrasound energy to tighten lax tissue and give patients an ultimately sleeker appearance.
Patients choosing Kybella for neck fat may also find that tissues higher on their face have slumped, leading to the formation of jowls and a poorly defined jawline. Pulling up this drooping skin and fat can restore a youthful look. Voluma, a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler in the Juvéderm family, adds volume to the mid-face region, creating fuller, rounder angles there that also produce a temporary, subtle lift.
Kybella results are considered permanent, as long as patients maintain a healthy body weight going forward, because unwanted fat is eliminated from the body. Liposuction is a surgical option that also removes fat cells. The procedure requires incisions for the insertion of a thin cannula to break up and suction out the fat, but results are essentially immediate. Lipo may also be part of a neck lift or facelift, both of which secure loose skin to create defined contours, eliminating any excess tissue. The neck lift can get rid of wattle-like sagging below the chin, while the facelift gets rid of jowls as it re-contours the mid and lower face. No matter the look of your neck or body, whether you are dealing with bulges or bagginess, there is a solution. Dr. Bengtson or Dr. Alfonso can assess your face and determine which options, from Kybella to a surgical lift, are best suited to delivering a sleeker, slimmer neck, face, and body.
To schedule a time with Dr. Brad Bengtson, Dr. David Alfonso, or the Aesthetic Experts to discuss Kybella Grand Rapids area residents are encouraged to request a consultation online or phone us at (616)588-8880
Are you ready to take the next step to a more beautiful you? Plastic Surgeons Dr. Bengtson and Dr. Alfonso, 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.
Monday 8:30am – 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am – 6:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am – 5pm
Thursday 8:30am – 6:30pm
Friday 8:30am – 5pm
*Saturday 9am -12pm
Sunday Closed
*Open select Saturdays.
Please call the office for details.
