In Riyadh, breast lift surgery in riyadh(حقن الفيلر للثدي في الرياض)are often marketed as a "non-surgical" alternative to implants.¹ While they offer a shorter recovery time, medical experts and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) have raised significant concerns regarding their long-term safety and the potential for serious complications.

If you are considering this procedure in Riyadh, it is vital to distinguish between approved medical practices and "off-label" uses that may carry higher risks.

1. Primary Risks and Complications

Unlike facial fillers, breast fillers involve larger volumes of material, which increases the likelihood of adverse reactions:

• Filler Migration: The material can move from the breast to other parts of the body, such as the chest wall, armpits, or even the abdominal area, leading to painful lumps and deformities.²

   

• Infection and Abscesses: Infections can occur shortly after the procedure or months later. In some cases, severe infections require surgical drainage and the complete removal of the filler material.

• Granulomas (Hard Lumps): The body may react to the filler as a foreign object, forming hard, permanent nodules. These can be painful and are often difficult to remove without surgery.

• Interference with Cancer Screening: Fillers can cause shadows or "calcifications" on mammograms. This makes it difficult for radiologists to distinguish between harmless filler material and potential breast cancer, leading to delayed diagnoses or unnecessary biopsies.³

   

2. Regulatory Status in Saudi Arabia

The SFDA classifies dermal fillers as medical devices. While they are approved for facial use (wrinkles, lips), their use for breast augmentation is widely considered unsupported or unapproved:

• Off-Label Use: Many clinics in Riyadh offer these injections "off-label." This means the product is being used in a way not specifically cleared by the manufacturer or the SFDA for that body part.

• Banned Substances: Certain fillers, such as those containing polyacrylamide gel (PAAG) or copolyamides (often sold under names like Aquafilling or Los Deline), have been banned or heavily restricted in many countries due to high complication rates.⁴

   

3. Comparing the Alternatives

In Riyadh’s top clinics, plastic surgeons generally recommend two safer, more standardized alternatives for breast enhancement:

4. Red Flags to Watch For in Riyadh Clinics

If a clinic is pushing breast fillers, ensure you ask the following:

1. "Is this SFDA-approved for breast use?" (Note: Most are only approved for the face).

2. "What exactly is the brand and chemical composition of the filler?" Avoid "copolyamide" or "hydrogel" fillers.

3. "What is the plan if the filler migrates or causes an infection?" These complications often require a general surgeon, not just an aesthetician.

[!IMPORTANT]

Always verify that your practitioner is a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon licensed by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), rather than a general practitioner or dermatologist performing surgical-level body contouring.