Macrolane: What You Need to Know

Written byColleen WilliamsUpdated on June 13, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Written byColleen WilliamsUpdated on June 13, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.

Fast facts

40% Worth It rating based on 3 reviews

Little to no downtime

Local anesthesia

Suitable for all skin tones


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Macrolane, also called the 30-minute boob job or sometimes a boob jab, is a hyaluronic acid–based filler that was used to shape and contour the body, especially the breasts and buttocks. It was never approved by the FDA for use in the U.S., but Europe temporarily embraced the product. This injection to increase breast size was touted as a quick, nonsurgical alternative to breast implants. Macrolane was taken off the market for breast enhancement in 2012, due to safety concerns about its interference with breast cancer screenings. 

Macrolane was injected into the chest for volume and then molded into the desired shape (typical increase was one cup size). The procedure was done under local anesthetic, and patients usually had swelling, bruising, and discomfort in the days following the treatment.

Pros

  • The procedure was so quick (just 30 to 45 minutes), it was considered a lunchtime procedure.
  • Results were instant.
  • It was a less invasive and less expensive alternative to breast augmentation surgery.

Cons

  • Studies show that Macrolane is not a recommended substance for breast augmentation, due to its interference with mammograms and breast cancer screenings. Because of this, it has been off the market since 2012.
  • The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) said that in a survey of its members, one in four surgeons reported patient complications such as lump formation and capsular contracture after the use of Macrolane.
  • This procedure was never FDA-approved.
  • Many RealSelf members said it didn’t last long enough to justify the cost (some reported the effects lasted only a few months).
  • Some RealSelf members reported lumpy results, especially once the filler started to break down.

Macrolane was replaced in 2017 with a product called HYAcorp Body Contouring MLF1/2. “It contains highly purified hyaluronic acid gel and can be used for contouring the buttocks and calves and in corrective procedures,” says London physician Dr. Kim Magnaldo. HYAcorp fillers are not currently approved for use in the U.S. 

Breast fat transfer (also known as breast fat grafting) is an increasingly popular procedure that harvests fat via liposuction and then injects it into the breasts. It’s intended to restore or add volume up to two cup sizes, without the potential risks and side effects of breast implants. 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t help sagging or skin laxity, but you can have a breast lift at the same time. The average cost for a breast fat transfer procedure is about $9,100; additional procedures will increase this cost.

Updated June 13, 2023

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