injections for breast enhancement A Swedish doctor says that hyaluronic acid gel injections are effective for breast enhancement. Per Hedén, MD, PhD, says the injectable is a simple and safe alternative for women who want to enhance their breasts, but aren’t ready to have breast implant surgery. "Hyaluronic acid gel injection … provides immediate results with minimal discomfort, and in clinical trials, it was associated with high ratings of breast general appearance, shape and firmness,” Dr.  Hedén told Cosmetic Surgery Times. The hyaluronic acid gel that has been developed for use on the breast, Macrolane, is approved for use in Europe but does not currently have FDA approval in the United States. Dr. Hedén says there have been no serious complications with Macrolane noted in studies, but hyaluronic acid gel for breast enhancement is new, so there isn’t yet long-term data on the procedure.

Breast Implant Alternative?

While the filler offers a less-invasive alternative to implants, it actually often opens the door to implants, according to Dr. Hedén, who says that 30 percent of his patients who first try injections eventually undergo breast augmentation. It may because the injections allow a woman to see how happy she is with larger breasts before deciding to undergo surgery. In addition to a lack of long-term data, the gel has a few other drawbacks. The absorption of the material isn’t predicable, and the amount of gel that remains after a year varies anywhere from 5 to 85 percent. In addition, patients will probably need a touch-up after nine to 12 months, according to Dr. Hedén. Since Macrolane does not have FDA approval, breast augmentation is the best procedure for women looking to enlarge their breasts. One other possible alternative is fat grafting. Used mainly for the face, some cosmetic surgeons now use the technique for breast enhancement as well.