Macrolane Breast Shaping - Advanced Techniques

Macrolane breast shaping injections are a fairly recent addition to the range of cosmetic procedures available in the UK, being introduced around 12 months ago. Due to this there are approxinmately 50 clinics that offer the Macrolane treatment, though the numbers are increasing.

Macrolane is a Non Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid (or NASHA) based product manufactured by Q MED, a Swedish company. It takes principles form Q MED’s Restylane range of facial dermal fillers, especially their Sub Q line of fillers. The Restlyane family of cosmetic products is considered one of the market leaders for its results and it has been used to treat over 9 million patients to date.

Macrolane is a much simpler procedure than standard breast implants and is used to enhance cup size and shape the breasts for a more desired look. Unlike the typical implants you hear about, Macrolane only increases a cup size by 1 or 1½, but this is to ensure the optimal breast shaping is achieved.

Before the Macrolane procedure there are several factors the cosmetician will take into account such as what method or technique will be used for anaesthesia, the incision site, the canula track, how much of filler is required and where it will be placed in the breast to achieve the desired shape.

One hundred mls per breast was the standard amount of macrolane injected, though it is now fairly common practice to inject around 120mls per breast (sometimes more, up to around 140 - 150mls if required though this depends on the client’s pain threshold entirely). Anaesthetic is applied to the breast to alleviate any discomfort or pain; several cosmeticians are now using fine spinal needles which are considered a much more comfortable option when injecting anaesthetic.

The incision site that the Macrolane filler will be injected has become something of a controversial debate. Many cosmeticians are now beginning to inject Macrolane from above the breast as opposed to the more conventional method of injecting from under the breast. The reason injecting from the top is controversial is that each injections incision will leave a tiny scar, no big deal per se, but Macrolane normally requires a top up every 12 months or so, thus the procedure and in turn the injection will have to be repeated. These repeat injections can lead to a more noticeable scar over several injections, however if the injection is administered under the breast this is much less noticeable and hidden by the shadow of the breast.

The actual site of product placement is crucial to achieve the most optimal results. The Macrolane breast shaping injections need to be carefully placed in the retro-mammary space between the breast mammary gland and the pectoralis major muscle in the chest. The cosmetician must always ensure that the track of entry of the canula is sealed.

So over the past year or so the delivery of Macrolane breast shaping injections has developed as cosmeticians gain more experience with the product and procedure this in turn has led to more confidence in the product and procedure from clients considering this treatments.

Dr S.R. Bassi is the lead cosmetic physician at Selston Cosmetic Clinic, North Nottingham’s premier medical cosmetic and laser clinic. Visit our website or give us a call to find out more about Macrolane.