The under-the-SKIN bra: Op stops sagging - using cups and straps screwed into a woman's ribs

Three women underwent the first 'internal bra' operations at London's Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital last week. The procedure, which costs £6,000 and is carried out in 45 minutes, involves the surgeon inserting a fine silicone cup underneath the skin and attaching fine silk straps from the cup to the patient's rib cage to life the breast. They are invisible under the skin and will enable women to go bra-less. More importantly, it is claimed they will not leak - welcome news after the recent PIP scandal. Experts have called for extensive clinical trials to prove the long-term efficacy and safety of the operation. 
 
More importantly, it is claimed they will not leak - welcome news after the recent PIP scandal.
The 45-minute operations, carried out at London's Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, cost £6,000 - around £1,000 more than standard breast implants.
Leading breast surgeon Professor Jian Farhadi carried out the first three trial operations at the hospital last week.

The procedure is likely to be free to NHS patients who have had medical breast reductions and breast cancer patients, and could be routine by next year, The Sun reports.
But experts have urged caution, welcoming the new operation while calling for extensive clinical trials to examine the long-term effects on women.
Professor Kefah Mokbel of the London Breast Institute told MailOnline the procedure, which has been in development since 2007, is an 'exciting' development.
But he said it is vital that full trials are carried out to highlight any potential side-effects for patients. 
He said: 'This procedure may prove to be an effective alternative.

'This procedure is exciting but we must look at its efficacy and safety in the long term'
- Professor Kefah Mokbel of the London Breast Institute

'It will have a real impact, I think. But people should understand it is not a quick fix.
'We don't know the long-term side effects yet. There is a need for clinical trials with adequate numbers and follow ups to prove the efficacy and safety in the long term. It is very important.

'One of the things to be looked into is if fixing silk straps to the ribs will have side effects.
'In a standard breast operation the silicone implants are inserted behind the breast to minimise the risk.
'These cups go under the skin, so the question is do we know the long-term effect to women, will they develop scaring and will the internal bra affect the shape of the breast in the long term?
'It is premature to say it is a solution to the issue of sagging breasts.'
He added that the operation may not be suitable for all women with sagging breasts.
'It has been marketed as a magical solution to address saggy breasts with very little scaring,' he added.

Credit:: Dailymail