A new filler in the United Kingdom, Macrolane, can reportedly add volume to a woman’s breasts.

This non-surgical procedure involves injecting a gel that contains hyaluronic acid into the breast to increase its size. The results are temporary and the gel degrades within a year. The size difference isn’t as dramatic as what a breast implant can offer. But the Macrolane method may be able to make the breast enlargement look more natural. Also, as a non-surgical operation, there are no scars and the procedure, including recovery time, is shorter than the implant process.

Surgeons can also use the Macrolane filler to add volume to other parts of the body, such as the buttocks.

Macrolane injections were approved in the UK 18 months ago and reportedly, 3000 women have had them. The product isn’t yet available in the United States.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Singer offers insight in the video below.

Plastic surgery was all the buzz in Seattle, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Plastic Surgery Talk was there, live, to talk to the world’s foremost plastic surgeons about hot topics in the industry.

In this episode, host Dr. William P. Adams, Jr., talks to Dr. Robert Singer about the heavily-marketed “liquid facelift” and whether it is an effective solution for women who want a youthful look with little recovery time.

Dr. Singer, who originated the conference’s Hot Topics forum, also discusses how patients can evaluate new techniques and technologies. This is a concern for doctors, because the onslaught of media attention to new procedures often circumvent key safety data in favor of results touted by marketing pundits.

Dr. Anand Deva, co-founder of the Surgical Infection Research Group, also stops in to share what he has learned about capsular contracture in breast implant patients. His discovery will hopefully lead to better surgical outcomes after breast augmentation.

All this and more on Plastic Surgery Talk. Click the player below to watch now.

This episode of Plastic Surgery Talk is sponsored by Mentor. Learn more about Memory Gel Breast implants at LoveYourLook.com.

Get the latest details on what’s happening in the fields of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, by tuning into Plastic Surgery News now!

Organizations mentioned in this episode:

• California Legislature
• Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Alejandra Guzman, Mexican pop star
• Macrolane
• Dr. Robert Singer, La Jolla, CA
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Dr. Jesse Taylor, Cincinnati, OH
• MSNBC blog “Does It Work?”

What’s in a name? Well, when it comes to the tools used in cosmetic surgery, it seems the brand itself has become more important than ever. More and more healthcare providers are offering branded tools and services – specifically cosmetic surgery offices that purchase laser-assisted liposuction machines with zippy names, like SmartLipo, Vaser, Zerona and AccuSculpt. The idea behind the popular purchases is to make the surgery offices stand out to prospective customers already familiar with these brands.

The manufacturers of these machines often provide extensive marketing resources – plus incentives– to the doctors who agree to use their products. The result is that, as in many other industries, some machines have become more popular and widely sought than ones that may be safer and easier to use.

Still, some experts are skeptical of the branding wave. Dr. Robert Singer, past president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the Aesthetic Society Education and Research Foundation, noted that there is no scientific data to support many of the claims made manufacturers that laser liposuction is any more effective than other liposuction technologies already in use.

Despite the lack of data, more and more patients may be looking to brand names for laser liposuction. Although the American Society of Plastic Surgery recently reported that liposuction surgeries are down 19 percent since the beginning of the economic recession in 2008, office-based cosmetic procedures have increased by 13 percent. And so, in time, the popularity of brand name treatments and the convenience of in-office procedures may drive more people to get liposuction, and offset the downward trend.

To this, Dr. Singer, who helped establish the Emerging Trends Hot Topics Task Force to examine developing trends in the field of plastic surgery more closely, noted that anyone can purchase one of the devices. To minimizse the risk of complications, patients should only seek treatment from a board certified plastic surgeon.

All of those stories and more are featured in this week’s newscast. Click the screen below to catch Plastic Surgery News now!

Organizations mentioned in this episode:

• The Plastic Surgery Group, Albany, NY
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Botox Cosmetic
• The E. Stewart Jones Law Firm
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• SmartLipo
• Vaser
• Zerona
• AccuSculpt
• Dr. Robert Singer
• BeautyforLife.com
• American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery