Surgeons Offer Bra Worn Under Skin

(NewsCore) - U.K. surgeons are offering a so-called "invisible bra" which promises to give its wearer an uplifting boost -- the difference being that this bra is worn under the skin, British newspaper the Daily Mail reported Saturday.

Six surgeons in the U.K. offer the cone-shaped polyester mesh support, called Breform, which can be inserted under the skin of the breast. Unlike silicone implants that usually last 10 years, the internal bra system was expected to last a lifetime, according to the report.

However, the operation does not come cheap -- it will cost £5,900 ($9,100) to have a pair inserted.

Fiona Court, a consultant breast surgeon from Nuffield Health in Cheltenham who offers the operation, said: "Over time, with gravity and pressures on the tissue, the skin stretches and you get drooping. The Breform supports the breast tissue into its new position. It is a very safe mesh and you cannot feel it when it is under the skin. It is effectively a thin layer of sponge but it has enough strength to support the breast tissue."

The mesh system is similar to the one that has been used in hernia operations for 40 years and supports the new shape, taking the strain off scars and the skin.

The device was licensed for use in Europe but not in the U.S. as of yet. The operation, pioneered in South Africa, is not suitable for all women. A mammogram may be needed and age can also be a factor, the newspaper said.