The pros and cons of using Macrolane for breast enhancement.

1. Distractions:looks
Fill ‘em UP!
Inflation is welcome when it comes to bust size. So it seems as the
breast enhancement business booms. By WONG MUN WAI
30 LIFESTYLE lite OCTOBER 2010
30-32 Lite-Look Breast enhancement KHL.indd 30 9/17/10 5:15:14 PM

2. Distractions:looks
“Macrolane itself has been used by the company (Q-Med) since 2002
in clinical trials, and has been shown to have a very safe profile.”
Dr Gerard Tan from NeuGlow The Aesthetics Doctors
“I have significant reservations. While Q-Med the maker of Macrolane
many of the hyaluronic acid-based said it has 200 clinical trials to
materials have been shown to be safe back up the product.
when used around the face and in
small volumes, we have to be much Dr Teh said: “Approximately as of
more cautious when injecting 2010, over 40,000 cases have been
material into the breast, and we done in Japan with great success.”
need to have the benefit of long- Japan is the largest market for
term follow-up,” Hart-Davis Macrolane in the world.
said in a Daily Mail article.
Physicians in Japan have used
Still, one case out of many hyaluronic acid since 2004 for bust
thousands seems like good
news to the ones keen to enhancement. In 2007, Macrolane
try it. was launched in Europe and
today it’s used in countries such as
World view England, Sweden, Germany, Italy
The Health Science and Spain.
Authority in Singapore,
which is the approving Dr Teh predicts more and more
authority of medicinal people will use Macrolane. He
products, gave its declined to give his clinics
response to Lifestyle statistics for business reasons but
Lite’s enquiry about he has seen a 25% increase in
“In Singapore, Macrolane. patients doing the procedure in
the first six months of this year
Marcolane has “While the procedure compared to the first six months
not been formally is minimally invasive of last year. Between just the first
approved by HSA, and hyaluronic acid has and second half of last year, the
been used for some tme, percentage of procedures increased
although it has consumers are advised to by about 15%.
been placed in the exercise prudence and caution
Transition List of and to find out as much as A trend that is likely to continue
possible about the procedure and as “market research has shown that
medical devices that
the product from the doctor before a significant number of women
may continue to deciding to undergo the procedure. would like to improve the shape
be supplied locally of their body in a natural, non-
Macrolane is, however, CE Certified by permanent way that does not
pending formal
the European Union and registered in involve the use of implants or body
evaluation and Australia but has not been registered fat in a major surgical procedure,”
approval.” for use in the US by the FDA. said Dr Gerard Tan. lite
- HSA
32 LIFESTYLE lite OCTOBER 2010
30-32 Lite-Look Breast enhancement KHL.indd 32 9/17/10 5:15:52 PM

3. “In terms of side effects, every medical treatment may have side effects. There is no 100%
safety in the world of medicine. The possible side effects that patients may have to be aware
of would be lumpiness. As for infection, theoretically you can have an infection simply from
having an injection. So far, I have done about 100 or so cases and I don’t even have one case
of infection.”
Dr Kevin Teh, Medical Director, Singapore Lipo, Body and Face Centre.
Upsizing at
C
don’t expect long term problems,
rystal Ong’s small
let’s say, 10 years down the line.”
breasts were lunchtime
always a cause of Like her, women can now turn to a
“Permanent fillers are out of vogue.
dissatisfaction. She “lunch-time breast enhancement”
So, all doctors prefer temporary
looked on with envy at busty procedure and be back at work in a
solutions,” he said.
women and seriously considered couple of hours. Treatment costs a
upping her cup size, especially few thousand dollars and boosts a
after reading about a non invasive woman’s confidence as it alters her UK case
procedure. physical appearance. Safety is no But globally there is at least one
longer an issue, but as always there serious case involving Macrolane.
She did her research on the are detractors. If you’ve always
internet, searching for information wanted prominent peaks, here’s In the UK early in 2009, a British
on a gel called Macrolane and its what to consider. journalist tried Macrolane with
safety before deciding to go for it. disastrous results.
Dr Kevin Teh explained the
The 35-year-old thought about the procedure at the `Breast and Alice Hart-Davis, 45, ended up
procedure for about three months Buttock Shaping for Every Dress with one encapsulated breast, while
and visited clinics before deciding Size’ event at the Singapore Lipo, the other one went incredibly soft,
to take the plunge from an A-cup Body and Face Centre where we making dressing up difficult for her.
to a B-cup. met Cyrstal.
She went back to the doctor’s and
“I told one of my girlfriends and His patients are aged between had a `touch up,’ only to develop a
both of us were pretty excited 20 to 50-something. The effects palpable lump, she wrote in a UK
about it,” she said. “She is also last between 12 and 18 months. newspaper.
small-breasted and as she is getting Macrolane’s main ingredient is
married soon, she might also want hyaluronic acid using NASHA David Ross, a consultant plastic,
to try it.” technology to stabilize the acid for aesthetic and reconstructive
the body. surgeon, who is head of plastic
Women like Crystal contribute to surgery at Guy’s and Thomas’ and
the growing demand for aesthetic Dr Teh explains that Macrolane practices privately at The London
improvement, with the largest rise dissolves in the body as sugars and Clinic, is one who would not dream
in the area of breast enhancement. that is “really good because you of using it.
LIFESTYLE lite OCTOBER 2010 31
30-32 Lite-Look Breast enhancement KHL.indd 31 9/20/10 11:18:04 AM