No, topical massage creams cannot enlarge breasts or buttocks

What's the claim?

Videos shared on YouTube claim that applying certain creams and oils can help increase breast and buttock size. A recent video, with nearly 3,800 views, reviews a product and claims that the cream will give "100 percent results". 

In another video, uploaded in June 2023, which has garnered over 97,000 views, a woman explains how different products can be used for breast upliftment and enlargement.

Image from a YouTube video showing a cream that it claims can help enlarge breasts. (Source: YouTube Screenshot)

Videos touting similar products are widespread across social media. A video with over 3.7 million views uploaded to YouTube in November 2021 makes similar claims and adds that food products like soy and milk can help with breast enlargement.

However, there is no scientific evidence for these claims. Medical professionals and experts advise against such remedies. 

What's the truth?

A closer look at these products revealed that the ingredients used are often not mentioned on the label, or their safety has not been proven because many natural and dietary supplements do not require approvals.

One of the videos suggested using a "plumping cream," which contains shea butter, vitamin E, chamomile, nutmeg, and macadamia seed oil. It further claims that its usage boosts collagen production, which is often linked to breast enlargement.

Breast plumping cream promoted in videos and e-commerce sites as a "rich formula with plant extracts that can help restore soft elasticity to your curves and help firm bust." (Source: YouTube Video/Screenshot)

However, there is no scientific evidence for this. While these could be good moisturizing agents, there is no research to prove that these products can help with breast enhancement or improve breast health.

Studies show that there is little evidence that topically applying oils or taking supplements can promote collagen production. According to Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, "Potential conflicts of interest exist in this area because most if not all of the research on collagen supplements are funded or partially funded by related industries that could benefit from a positive study result, or one or more of the study authors have ties to those industries." 

Speaking to Logically Facts, sex health educator Dr. Tanaya Narendra, popularly known as Dr. Cuterus on Instagram, explained, "You can't make anything bigger or smaller by using a pill cream or a lotion. Unless, of course, there is extensive fat loss because you can't apply a pill, cream, or a lotion and change the size of a particular body part."

Some creams listed hyaluronic acid as one of the main ingredients that can "improve" the size of the breast. Dr. Narendra says, "Hyaluronic acid is a great moisturizer, but it can't change the size or shape of a body part. If somebody is applying hyaluronic acid on their face, does that mean their face is going to grow? That's not how it works."

What about pills?

As well as creams and lotions, there are pills and supplements available online that claim to help lift and increase the size of breasts. 

Dismissing the claim, Dr. Rishma Pai, consultant gynecologist at Lilavati and Hinduja Hospital, said, "Breast enhancement products are not known to work. You can't do anything to reduce, increase, and lift the size of your breasts. Breast tissues are fats. If you lose weight, you may see size reduction, and if you gain weight, you see an increase in size". 

In a blog post published by the American non-profit academic medical center Mayo Clinic, Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, a specialist in breast diseases and women's health, wrote, "Breast enhancement supplements aren't likely to work and might have side effects."

According to Harvard Health, "Dietary supplements for enhancing breast size are often marketed with compelling testimonials and results from so-called scientific studies. But no clinical trial data have been published on any of these products, so we have no proof that they work."

Do at-home remedies help enlarge breasts and buttocks?

A video on YouTube with over 1.8 million views claims that a concoction of onion, Vaseline, and coconut oil can help increase the size of the buttocks. The video explains the process in detail and says it is for "educational purposes only."

Screenshot of a video explaining how to naturally enlarge breasts with at-home available products. (Source: YouTube)

Advising against using such products, Dr. Narendra said, "If you're putting Vaseline on your butt, it will just act as a moisturizer. It's like putting Vaseline on the lips or cracked feet." She added, "There is some evidence that onion juice can help in regrowth of hair, but there's not a very strong evidence base." 

Certain videos also promote the use of food products like soybeans to increase the size of the breasts. Dr. Pai said it's easy to mislead people with such myths, but excessive amounts of anything could be harmful. 

"If you eat a lot of soybean, it will help increase some estrogen production (estrogen maintains sexual and reproductive health) in the body, and it will impact all organs, including the thickening of the uterus lining. It will not just impact one organ directly and increase the size." She added, "Even creams and oils may improve the skin texture by reducing fine lines, but they cannot physically change breasts."

The verdict

There is no data or scientific evidence to prove that topical application of products and creams can alter the shape and size of breasts or buttocks. Therefore, we have marked this claim as false.