When Rodial’s “Boob Job” was released, it came out with a great deal of fanfare. Although not the first breast enlargement cream, it was one of the first to hit the shelves at a major retail outlet. It came out with a list of so-called celebrity fans, though none of the purported devotees would admit to using it. According to the manufacturer, here’s how it works: “Boob job works with your natural fat cells. As the fat cells move around the body after eating, boob job “blocks” the fat into the area where the product has been applied, so the bust and décolleté areas.” The manufacturer said that if women applied it to their breasts for 56 days, their breast size would increase by up to 8.4% or 1 inch, depending on where you look on the website. Needless to say, people who understand how the body works were skeptical. A leading plastic surgeon in the UK went on record saying it was “highly unlikely” that the cream could deliver the results it promised and in response the manufacturer threatened her with a libel action. However, the UK’s independent regulator of advertising, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), , has backed the surgeon’s statement. The ASA considered claims made in the manufacturer’s advertising. After careful evaluation, it found that there was no scientific basis for the claims made about the product. First the ASA evaluated claims that the compound’s main ingredient, sarsasapogenin, increased fat storage in the breast. They stated that the ingredient had not been evaluated or approved for marketing in the UK and therefore statements that “implied the modification of human physiology by way of pharmacological and/or metabolic pathways” had not been scientifically evaluated. Next, the ASA looked at testimonials included in the company’s advertising. With no documentary evidence to support the testimonials, the ASA decided the ads were likely to mislead and the company was banned from repeating the claims. This reminds us to remain suspicious of claims about miracle creams. If you are looking for a reliable method for increasing the size and improving the shape and firmness of your breasts, consider surgical breast augmentation. It is not a miracle, and it does have some significant risks, but most women who have surgical breast augmentation are satisfied with their long-lasting, attractive, and natural-looking results. To learn more about breast augmentation, please contact Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. David A. Bottger for a consultation today.