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UCHG surgeon gives thumbs down to new breast enlargement system
A consultant plastic surgeon at UCHG has given the thumbs-down to a new non-surgical breast enlargement system which is now available in Ireland.

BRAVA shaping system http://www.brava.com/

Mr Jack Kelly says more research is needed before he could recommend the BRAVA shaping system, which costs almost € 3,000 and claims to increase bust size by a process of tension induced tissue growth.

Brava, which is designed for home use under supervision, is available from the Harley Medical Group in Dublin. It combines a sports bra, microcontroller (SmartBox) system and a series of plastic domes which are attached to the chest and use sustained tension to draw the breasts forward. The system should be worn for a minimun of 10 hours per day for 10 weeks. The makers say over the treatment period, the pain-free vacuum stimulates the tissue cells to grow and multiply naturally. They claim a lasting increase of an average of one-cup size can be achieved naturally.

However, Mr Kelly who reviewed documentation from the Harley Group, said he did not feel he could recommend this treatment to patients.

Writing in the Irish Medical News, he said he based his opinion on the "very limited reports in the literature".

"Large variations in final outcome render the treatment unpredictable and up to 30 per cent of patients may be dissatisfied with the overall results. More research is needed before I could recommend this product outside the setting of a clinical trial."

He takes issues with the makers on their claim that Brava provides a lasting increase of an average of one-cup size.

"After treatment, the average increase in breast size over the initial volume was 55 per cent but the range was 15 to 115 per cent. Therefore, one or more patients only realised a 15 per cent increase in breast volume after successful completion of the treatment."

He also questions why the system should not be used by patients with a history of breast cancer or mastectomy as indicated on literature from the Harley Medical Group.

"It states there is evidence to suggest that cancerous cells do not respond to tension. Why then should this system be avoided in patients with a history of breast cancer or those in need of reconstruction?"

http://www.galwayadvertiser.ie/dws/story.tpl?inc=2004/02/26/news/43205.html