30 LIFESTYLE lite OCTOBER 2010

Distractions:looks

Fill ‘em UP!Infl ation is welcome when it comes to bust size. So it seems as the

breast enhancement business booms. By WONG MUN WAI

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32 LIFESTYLE lite OCTOBER 2010

“I have signifi cant reservations. While many of the hyaluronic acid-based materials have been shown to be safe when used around the face and in small volumes, we have to be much more cautious when injecting material into the breast, and we need to have the benefi t of long-term follow-up,” Hart-Davis said in a Daily Mail article.

Still, one case out of many thousands seems like good news to the ones keen to try it.

World viewThe Health Science Authority in Singapore, which is the approving authority of medicinal products, gave its response to Lifestyle Lite’s enquiry about Macrolane.

“While the procedure is minimally invasive

and hyaluronic acid has been used for some tme,

consumers are advised to exercise prudence and caution

and to fi nd out as much as possible about the procedure and the product from the doctor before deciding to undergo the procedure.

Macrolane is, however, CE Certifi ed by the European Union and registered in Australia but has not been registered for use in the US by the FDA.

Q-Med the maker of Macrolane said it has 200 clinical trials to back up the product.

Dr Teh said: “Approximately as of 2010, over 40,000 cases have been done in Japan with great success.” Japan is the largest market for Macrolane in the world.

Physicians in Japan have used hyaluronic acid since 2004 for bust enhancement. In 2007, Macrolane was launched in Europe and today it’s used in countries such as England, Sweden, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Dr Teh predicts more and more people will use Macrolane. He declined to give his clinics statistics for business reasons but he has seen a 25% increase in patients doing the procedure in the fi rst six months of this year compared to the fi rst six months of last year. Between just the fi rst and second half of last year, the percentage of procedures increased by about 15%.

A trend that is likely to continue as “market research has shown that a signifi cant number of women would like to improve the shape of their body in a natural, non-permanent way that does not involve the use of implants or body fat in a major surgical procedure,” said Dr Gerard Tan. lite

“In Singapore,

Marcolane has

not been formally

approved by HSA,

although it has

been placed in the

Transition List of

medical devices that

may continue to

be supplied locally

pending formal

evaluation and

approval.”

- HSA

“Macrolane itself has been used by the company (Q-Med) since 2002

in clinical trials, and has been shown to have a very safe profi le.”Dr Gerard Tan from NeuGlow The Aesthetics Doctors

Distractions:looks

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LIFESTYLE lite OCTOBER 2010 31

Crystal Ong’s small breasts were always a cause of dissatisfaction. She

looked on with envy at busty women and seriously considered upping her cup size, especially after reading about a non invasive procedure.

She did her research on the internet, searching for information on a gel called Macrolane and its safety before deciding to go for it.

The 35-year-old thought about the procedure for about three months and visited clinics before deciding to take the plunge from an A-cup to a B-cup.

“I told one of my girlfriends and both of us were pretty excited about it,” she said. “She is also small-breasted and as she is getting married soon, she might also want to try it.”

Women like Crystal contribute to the growing demand for aesthetic improvement, with the largest rise in the area of breast enhancement.

Upsizing at lunchtimeLike her, women can now turn to a “lunch-time breast enhancement” procedure and be back at work in a couple of hours. Treatment costs a few thousand dollars and boosts a woman’s confi dence as it alters her physical appearance. Safety is no longer an issue, but as always there are detractors. If you’ve always wanted prominent peaks, here’s what to consider.

Dr Kevin Teh explained the procedure at the `Breast and Buttock Shaping for Every Dress Size’ event at the Singapore Lipo, Body and Face Centre where we met Cyrstal.

His patients are aged between 20 to 50-something. The effects last between 12 and 18 months. Macrolane’s main ingredient is hyaluronic acid using NASHA technology to stabilize the acid for the body.

Dr Teh explains that Macrolane dissolves in the body as sugars and that is “really good because you

“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.

don’t expect long term problems, let’s say, 10 years down the line.”

“Permanent fi llers are out of vogue. So, all doctors prefer temporary solutions,” he said.

UK caseBut globally there is at least one serious case involving Macrolane.

In the UK early in 2009, a British journalist tried Macrolane with disastrous results.

Alice Hart-Davis, 45, ended up with one encapsulated breast, while the other one went incredibly soft, making dressing up diffi cult for her.

She went back to the doctor’s and had a `touch up,’ only to develop a palpable lump, she wrote in a UK newspaper.

David Ross, a consultant plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgeon, who is head of plastic surgery at Guy’s and Thomas’ and practices privately at The London Clinic, is one who would not dream of using it.

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