FIRST, we had fillers to plump up the areas of the face. Now, women (and men) who want their bosoms and buttocks 'enhanced' can have fillers injected into them - made of the same material as fillers used on the face, but in larger molecules.

Swedish company Q-Med's Macrolane VRF (Volume Restoration Factor) is the one and only body 'filler' in the market, made of hyaluronic acid similar to that used in facial fillers - which means it's safer, but also that the effect is temporary (12-18 months) although it does provide an alternative to breast implants.

'A 100ml injection into each breast will see a half-cup enlargement and enhancement of breast shape, and will produce a firming and lifting effect,' says Martin Huang, executive director and consultant plastic surgeon of The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, one of the three doctors in Singapore 'approved' to administer Macrolane by Q-Med.

Little downtime

Patients can do it under local anaesthesia, and the procedure takes 30 to 90 minutes with little bruising and swelling thereafter. With the little downtime needed for recovery, it can technically be a lunchtime procedure. Further enhancement is also possible after six months.

'There's a significant increase of breast volume after 100ml,' says Dr Huang, stressing that the injection technique is what's important to achieve a natural shape.

The range of volume Dr Huang recommends is 50-150ml per breast, the average volume being 100ml. He does not recommend less than 50ml because the change is not likely to be significant.

'Any less and the increase won't be detectable,' adds Chua Jun Jin, a consultant plastic surgeon at JJ Chua Rejuvenative Cosmetic & Laser Surgery, also approved to administer Macrolane. Compared to breast implants, the average 200-250 ml implant can boost women's bosoms up by one cup size, and implants can last for 10-15 years.

Cost-wise, charges for a Macrolane procedure start from $8,000 and can be as high as $23,000, depending on the doctor and the amount used. For breast implants, the total fees can start from $12,800.

'Macrolane could also be a chance for a woman to decide whether she wants silicone or saline implants afterwards, as a longer-term solution,' says Dr Huang.

For six-packs too

While Dr Huang has used Macrolane only on breasts so far, Dr Chua has used them to enhance calves and also to enhance a male patient's six-pack. Macrolane can also be used to shape buttocks and smoothen out post-liposuction skin. The other doctor who can administer it, for now, is Dr Woffles Wu.

Macrolane VRF was launched for commercial use at the end of 2007 and is based on Q-Med's patented Nasha gel. Q-Med also manufactures Restylane, which is a dermal filler which has been around for more than 10 years.

Nasha gel is based on non-animal, stabilised hyaluronic acid which occurs naturally in the body. The primary function of hyaluronic acid is to bind water, thus providing the skin with volume, and to lubricate joints and muscles. The body gradually metabolises this acid over time. Ongoing research is being conducted to further evaluate the efficacy of Macrolane in the breast and improve breast shaping injection techniques.

Macrolane is distributed by Diethelm Singapore and available exclusively at clinics of physicians certified and trained at Q-Med.