Paag - a Hydrated Polyacrylamide

P.A.A.G

Polyacrylamide Gel, or PAAG, has recently caused quite a stir in Asian countries. PAAG is a hydrated polyacrylamide of stiff consistency used as a medium for electrophoresis. Its uses are not only as a medium for electrophoresis, but it can be used for breast enlargement. However there is little evidence about the safety of PAAG for such a purpose. Fifty-three cases have been reported in Hong Kong were women have received complications after the injection. The complications included induration, infection, abscess and haematoma. Ninety percent of all women received the injection in Mainland china; the rest in Hong Kong and Thailand. So far six women have needed to have surgical removal of their breast.

The structural formula of PAAG is CH2-CH(CONH2). PAAG is a combination of a synthetic polymer and water. This combination is non-biodegradable and can not be absorbed into the body. The polymer of PAAG is Polyacrylamide and