Beauty chip: what is it and what are the health risks

You may have heard the so-called “beauty chipAs the name suggests, the formula promises miracles in the appearance of those who stick with it: better night’s sleep, more exercise cravings. – and consequently more lean mass –Reduction in PMS symptoms, tighter skin, less cellulite and increased libido.

Like any alternative that promises quick results, the beauty chip isn’t all that miraculous. Last Sunday (16), singer Flay showed Fantástico the side effects of using chips for aesthetic purposes on TV Globo. In an interview, he said that when his hair started falling out, he was startled, his body swelled and his skin became more and more acne-prone.

But what is a beauty chip anyway?

The beauty chip, which is mostly sought by the female public, is a hormone implant placed in the subcutaneous tissue by means of a silicon rod, just below the most superficial layer of the skin. Hormones on the chip include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, or gestrinone, and the amount of each varies from person to person.

Denise Iezzi, an endocrinologist at Sírio-Libanês Hospital, explains that the effects of the chip on the body depend on the concentration and composition of the hormones. According to her, menopausal women and andropause men can benefit from hormone replacement as well as libido, concentration and performance in the execution of physical exercises.

“Outside this group, there are no studies showing this benefit when use is interrupted, and we can have serious side effects depending on the dose,” says Iezzi. As for people who don’t experience a drop in their hormones and don’t need this change, they too can enjoy some benefits, but the effects expire when the chip expires.

health hazards

Like Singer Flay, the chip can cause weight gain, hair loss, swelling, deep voice, aggression, psychic disturbances, clitoral enlargement, in addition to an increase in liver enzymes. In the long term, it may increase the incidence of liver, breast, and endometrial cancers, depending on their concentration.

Iezzi explains that some doctors who place implants claim that because the hormones used are “bio-identical,” the negative effects are no longer present. According to the endocrinologist, knowledge is an illusion. “The greatest danger lies in accidental misuse, especially aesthetic use.”

In 2021, Anvisa even banned the advertising of gestrinone-containing products in Brazil. The Federal Medical Council (CFM), which endorsed Anvisa’s speech, last week banned the prescribing of androgenic and anabolic steroids for aesthetic purposes.

The Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology (SBEM) has formally rejected the “vigorous use of anabolic steroids for aesthetic purposes and to enhance physical performance” and urged authorities to take regulatory action to include the hormone in the list of substances in question. In addition to increased monitoring of inappropriate use of hormonal implants, it has been subject to special regulation in Brazil.