Advancements in aesthetics and plastic surgery are ever evolving, from small, nonsurgical tweaks to more aggressive surgical procedures and everything in between.
We caught up with Dr. Bradley Bengtson, FACS, Founder and CEO of Bengtson Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery, to learn what he's seeing in the industry at the moment.
Dr. Bengtson explained that trends in aesthetics and plastic surgery have been changing over time, along with the demographic of who is getting these procedures done.
"For the past 30 years, we've always approached plastic surgery as natural, proportional and restored; not over-operated, overdone, over-filled or over-tightened," Dr. Bengtson said of his practice, which consistently integrates new surgical devices and technologies into their offerings. "The [greater] market is now coming to the realization that this is the direction they should go."
While younger patients are indeed opting for more minimally invasive procedures (some even traveling over 250 miles to visit the Bengtson Center), there's one overall desired outcome Dr. Bengtson has seen: Plastic surgery that's so good, people can't tell you've had anything done.
"There is also a trend toward non-surgical solutions such as non-surgical skin tightening and skin resurfacing, along with less-aggressive surgery and trends toward less surgery earlier, such as 'mini' face-lifts in younger patients, etc.," Dr. Bengtson explained, noting the increase of new companies and products focusing on offerings specifically catering to this trend.
The most common patient requests Dr. Bengtson sees in his practice these days include nonsurgical treatments like muscle relaxers, fillers, laser treatments, and new skin tightening procedures; hair restoration treatments through individual follicle transfers, topicals, nutritional supplements, and light therapy; and weight optimization. He also commonly sees patients seeking surgical procedures like breast augmentation and lifting; body contouring such as tummy tucks and liposuction; and facial procedures like face- and neck-lifts and eyelid surgery.
"There is also a brand-new implant on the market (MOTIVA) that just got FDA approval," Dr. Bengtson shared, noting that it's the first implant to gain approval in many years and has some differences from other existing implants. "AI (artificial intelligence) will also continue to impact medicine and surgery—to what degree we do not know."
Safety, of course, is something to be considered when looking at the possibility of pursuing any aesthetic treatment or plastic surgery procedure. It's something Dr. Bengtson and his team shared as their top priority, with safety training for nurses and surgeons being a constant.
"We only purchase technology and products that are safe and have broad safety treatment bandwidths that improve outcomes and minimize complications," he said. "We get bombarded every week with new technologies and products and we believe our role is to determine what is safe, real and effective."
Ultimately, the decision to pursue an aesthetic or plastic surgery procedure is deeply personal. It's important to remember that every individual has their own reasons for the specific route they choose to take. Plastic surgery can be absolutely life changing for those who may be seeking restoration or to build confidence that ultimately leads to an improved quality of life.
If you're curious about a treatment or procedure, research accredited providers and surgeons and schedule a consultation so you can ask all the questions you have. It's also wise to connect with others who've had the same or similar procedure to learn from their experience (online groups are a great place to start).
Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.
This article originally appeared in the Apr/May '25 issue of West Michigan Woman.
Photo courtesy of Mitch Ranger.
