Nonsurgical breast enlargement using an external soft-tissue expansion system

Less than 1 percent of the women interested in having larger breasts elect to have surgical augmentation mammaplasty with insertion of breast implants . The purpose of this report is to describe and test the efficacy of a nons urgical method for breast enlargement that is based on the ability of tissu es to grow when subjected to controlled distractive mechanical forces. Seve nteen healthy women (aged 18 to 40 years) who were motivated to achieve bre ast enlargement were enrolled in a single-group study. The participants wer e asked to wear a brassiere-like system that applies a 20-mmHg vacuum distr action force to each breast for 10 to 12 hours/day over a 10-week period. B reast size was measured by three separate methods at regular intervals duri ng and after treatment. Breast tissue water density and architecture were v isualized before and after treatment by magnetic resonance imaging scans ob tained in the same phase of the menstrual cycle. Twelve subjects completed the study; five withdrawals occurred due to protocol noncompliance. Breast size increased in all women over the 10-week treatment course and peaked at week 10 (final treatment); the average increase per woman was 98 +/- 67 pe rcent over starting size. Partial recoil was seen in the first week after t erminating treatment, with no significant further size reduction after up t o 30 weeks of follow-up. The stable long-term increase in breast size was 5 5 percent (range, 15 to 115 percent). Magnetic resonance images showed no e dema and confirmed the proportionate enlargement of both adipose and fibrog landular tissue components. A statistically significant decrease in body we ight occurred during the course of the study, and scores on the self-esteem questionnaire improved significantly. All participants were very pleased w ith the outcome and reported that the device was comfortable to wear. No ad verse events were recorded during the use of the device or after treatment. We conclude that true breast enlargement can be achieved with the daily us e of an appropriately designed external expansion system. This nonsurgical and noninvasive alternative for breast enlargement is effective and well to lerated.