Britain’s leading plastic surgeons are calling for an immediate ban on synthetic dermal fillers being injected into breasts, warning the procedure carries “unacceptable” risks including infection, disfigurement and the potential masking of breast cancer.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) says there is “no justification whatsoever” for injecting fillers into breast tissue, describing the trend as high risk with little proven benefit. The call is backed by the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) and patient safety group Save Face.
Cancer detection concerns
One of the most serious warnings centres on the impact fillers may have on early breast cancer diagnosis. Surgeons say fillers can trigger inflammation, infection and the formation of hard scar tissue known as granulomas, all of which may obscure warning signs or complicate breast imaging.
Breast cancer affects around one in seven women in the UK, with more than 44,000 new cases diagnosed each year. BAAPS argues that any cosmetic procedure that could delay detection is “simply indefensible”.
The association also points to the history of Macrolane, a breast filler withdrawn in 2012 due to safety concerns. Despite this, surgeons warn that similar substances continue to be used, often in settings with limited oversight or regulation.
Serious complications reported
Reported risks include severe mastitis, abscesses requiring surgery, hard or misshapen lumps, filler migration, chronic pain and interference with breastfeeding. Some women have needed major operations to remove the material.
BAAPS President Nora Nugent stressed that the breast is “a gland with biological function, not just cosmetic tissue,” warning infections may cause lasting damage.
Minimal benefit, weak regulation
Often marketed as quick “lunchtime” procedures, fillers are promoted as a non-surgical fix for volume loss or sagging. But BAAPS says results are modest and can appear unnatural over time.
Surgeons are also concerned that fillers can be administered by individuals without surgical training and with no consistent standards for clinics or managing complications.
BAAPS, alongside BAPRAS, the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners and the Royal College of Surgeons of England, has called for tighter controls on high-risk filler procedures, but breast fillers remain largely unrestricted.
Safer alternatives exist
Plastic surgeons emphasise that safer, evidence-based options are available when performed by appropriately trained specialists. These include fat transfer, breast implants and breast lift surgery, which offer more predictable outcomes and stronger safety profiles.
“In the presence of safer alternatives, there is simply no place for this practice in the UK,” said BAAPS spokesperson Elaine Sassoon. “We are calling for a ban.”
For media enquiries, please contact: pr@baaps.org.uk
Full press release: https://tinyurl.com/mrxnf9kh
Work with Flipside PR
At Flipside PR we support brands in building cross-platform campaign strategies that deliver across newsletter, print, digital media, socials and beyond. Find out more about the services we provide here, and we look forward to hearing from you.