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Gel not allowed in US approved by DOH for surgery

Taiwan has approved the use of polyacrylamide gel as a soft tissue filler for facial cosmetic surgery uses.

The non-biodegradable gel, marketed as Aquamid, is injected directly into the flesh. The importer said that its applications are limited to facial augmentation such as nose jobs and lip enhancements, but it was unclear whether other applications are specifically excluded in the approval, which was handed down on Friday.

The substance has yet to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, which had traditionally been the guide for Taiwan's Department of Health when approving new treatments and drugs. Polyacrylamide gel is allowed in other countries, however, including South Korea, the UK and Brazil.

The use of polyacrylamide gel for breast augmentation has resulted in a slew of botched operations in Hong Kong and China, making mastectomies necessary for six women in Hong Kong, reports by Hong Kong's Chinese-language Oriental Daily News said.

Cosmetic surgeon Liang Wei-chung (梁偉中) defended the approval of Aquamid, although he acknowledged its use involves risks and that the treatment should definitely not be used for breast augmentations.

"However, the gel has been in use for facial augmentation for more than 10 years and approved in 35 countries. In that respect it has a good safety record," Liang said.

Liang said the advantage of polyacrylamide gel was its relative permanence compared to its main competitors.

This permanence also means that consumers might have a hard time going back on their decision if they are unhappy with the results.
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