Plastic Surgeon Comments on Risks of the 'Lunchtime Boob Job'

TRACY, Calif. - May 7, 2013 - PRLog -- With much talk online and in the media about a surgery-free breast augmentation, Bay Area plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas McNemar cautions that it may not be as wonderful as it sounds.

The so-called "lunchtime boob job" uses an injectable substance called Macrolane™ for breast augmentation or a subtle breast lift. Bay Area women who come to Dr. McNemar to discuss breast enhancement options often ask his opinion of this method, which has been used to increase the volume of breasts as well as buttocks, calves and other parts of the body.

However, in April, the manufacturer of Macrolane announced it would no longer promote the product for breast enhancement after it was discovered that Macrolane may interfere with mammogram readings.

"Not only does Macrolane show up as a shadow in ultrasound, MRI and mammogram images, but a recent study found that it can interfere with the ability to diagnose cancer through mammography," Dr. McNemar says.

In addition, he notes that a survey by The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) found that about a quarter of its members were reporting complications in patients who had been injected with Macrolane, and these complications sometimes result in the need for corrective surgery.

"When women come to me considering breast augmentation, I sit down with them and explain the pros and cons of all the options that are available," Dr. McNemar says. "I explain that, depending on the woman's individual cosmetic goals, breast implants are usually the safest, longest-lasting and most dependable choice."

Dr. McNemar says that implants offer more flexibility than other options for adding volume to the breasts. "With the wide variety of implant sizes and shapes available, we can achieve beautiful, proportional augmentation that complements a woman's figure, no matter what her body type."

The co-author of Your Complete Guide to Breast Augmentation & Body Contouring, Dr. McNemar is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in helping patients find the best options available to achieve the breast size and shape they desire.

In addition to breast lift (http://www.mcnemarcosmeticsurgery.com/plastic-surgery/bre...) and breast augmentation (http://www.mcnemarcosmeticsurgery.com/plastic-surgery/bre...), Dr. McNemar specializes in breast reduction for Bay Area women who experience pain or embarrassment because of overly large breasts.

Regardless of the procedure, Dr. McNemar always recommends using proven techniques that have a strong record of safety and results. "Some quick-fix cosmetic procedures may be less expensive and require less recuperation time than breast surgery, but I've found that when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is."