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Plastic surgeons in the United Kingdom are calling for a ban on injectable fillers used in the breasts, warning that the procedure carries significant risks. The push comes from leading surgical groups, including the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, which say injecting fillers into breast tissue can lead to infections, deformities and complications in detecting breast cancer.<\/strong><\/p>\n While dermal fillers are widely used in the face to restore lost volume, plastic surgeons say the breast is a very different environment. Facial injections are typically placed in predictable layers of skin or fat, but breast tissue contains glands and ducts. Introducing filler into that area can create complications that are harder to treat. <\/p>\n \u201cSome surgeons have seen this over the years, and now with more individuals providing injections, including non-surgeons, we\u2019re starting to see more of it,\u201d says La Jolla, CA plastic surgeon Robert Singer, MD. \u201cIt\u2019s been a problem for years and in other countries as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Ahead, we\u2019re diving into the risks experts say patients should understand.<\/p>\n Breast fillers have been marketed in some countries as a quick alternative to surgery, sometimes promoted as a \u201clunchtime\u201d procedure that can add volume without implants. \u201cThere are a variety of breast fillers used outside of the U.S., and none are FDA-approved,\u201d says Eugene, OR plastic surgeon Mark Jewell, MD. \u201cThese include silicone, polyacrylamide gel and hyaluronic acid products such as Macrolane that were used years ago.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n Surgeons say the concern is not only the lack of regulation but also the complications these materials can cause once injected. Fillers can trigger inflammatory reactions in the breast tissue, sometimes leading to infections, painful lumps or hardened scar tissue known as granulomas. In some cases, the filler material can migrate through the breast or form globules that distort the tissue. \u201cThese fillers can become infected or form spherical globules in the breast,\u201d says Dr. Jewell. \u201cRemoval of synthetic filler cysts is difficult and almost impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n Las Vegas plastic surgeon Michael Edwards, MD has seen the complications firsthand. \u201cI cared for several women who had illicit injections into their breasts in Asia and Central America,\u201d he says. \u201cI have seen women who have had free silicone injected into their breasts requiring mastectomy and reconstruction due to the complete inability to monitor the breast tissue for cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n Beyond the risk of infection or deformity, surgeons say one of the biggest concerns is how fillers can interfere with breast cancer screening. Mammograms and other imaging tests rely on clear views of breast tissue to detect early signs of cancer. When foreign materials are injected into the breast, they can create distortions or calcifications that make those scans harder to interpret.<\/p>\n \u201cDepending on the filler and the body\u2019s response to the material, there can be a decreased ability of the radiologist to adequately survey the breast tissue,\u201d Dr. Edwards explains. That uncertainty can lead to additional imaging and biopsies. For patients, it can also create significant anxiety while doctors determine whether an abnormal finding is filler material or something more serious.<\/p>\n Dr. Singer says inflammatory reactions can also complicate imaging results. \u201cIt can mask screening because it creates areas that may or may not look like malignancy,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt can interfere with mammograms and MRI.\u201d<\/p>\n For many plastic surgeons, the answer is simple: no. When asked whether injectable fillers have a safe role in breast enhancement, Dr. Jewell\u2019s answer is direct. \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe only material that is currently appropriate to inject into a woman\u2019s breast is her own properly harvested and safely grafted fat,\u201d says Dr. Edwards. A fat transfer involves using liposuction to remove fat, purifying it and placing it back into the breast to create subtle increases in volume. <\/p>\n \u201cThere is also a synthetic fat option such as Renuva that can be used, but little is known about its safety profile,\u201d adds Dr. Jewell.<\/p>\n Even fat transfer has limitations. Some of the injected fat may not survive, which can create oil cysts or calcifications within the breast. However, radiologists are generally able to distinguish these changes from the types of calcifications associated with breast cancer. \u201cFat becomes incorporated into the tissue and develops a blood supply,\u201d Dr. Singer explains. \u201cThat\u2019s very different from fillers.\u201d<\/p>\n For patients seeking fuller breasts or improved shape, surgeons say there are several well-studied alternatives with established safety profiles. These include breast implants, breast lift surgery and fat transfer procedures performed by board-certified plastic surgeons. In some cases, surgeons combine implants and fat grafting to improve contour and create a more natural transition in the upper breast. \u201cThese modalities are currently in use with a good safety profile and provide the most reasonable techniques for elective breast enhancement and breast reconstruction,\u201d Dr. Edwards says.<\/p>\n For patients who may have already received breast fillers, experts recommend consulting a plastic surgeon and undergoing appropriate screening to evaluate the breast tissue. Imaging such as mammography or MRI may be needed to determine the type of material present and whether any complications have developed. <\/p>\n As aesthetic treatments continue to evolve, surgeons say patient safety must remain the priority. While fillers have transformed many areas of cosmetic medicine, experts agree that the breast is one place where the risks outweigh the benefits.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nFeatured Experts<\/h2>\n
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Interfering With Necessary Screening<\/h2>\n
Are There Any Safe Breast Fillers?<\/h2>\n
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What to Do if You\u2019ve Already Had Breast Fillers<\/h2>\n