The mechanical bra for breast enlargement

Although breast implants are widely used today and are associated with a high satisfaction rate, they have well-known disadvantages, including the need for surgery and the potential for capsular contracture, implant palpability, and eventual replacement. Certainly many women would consider or prefer a non-surgical alternative to breast implants. At the May 1999 American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) meeting in Dallas,1 an alternative was presented: a mechanical bra that exerts negative pressure on the breast, with induction of increased breast size. Short-term follow-up of a group of 10 patients showed that results were maintained. Given the potential impact of this alternative on the field of breast augmentation, an analysis of this emerging technology is timely.The device consists of a fabric bra containing 2 semirigid shells, which enclose the breasts. A silicone gel-filled bladder at the rim provides a seal with the skin and allows a relative vacuum of negative pressure to be created. Each dome contains an outlet port connected to a battery-operated, computer chip-controlled vacuum pump that maintains a negative pressure of 15 to 25 mm Hg. Pressure sensors and valves are used to help control the pressure of the device. The bra is designed to maintain continuous negative pressure and is meant to be worn 10 to 12 hours a day for at least 10 weeks. The device has patent protection.2 The …