Just about anyone considering silicone breast implants has heard the term ‘gummy bear’ breast implants. Some women even come in requesting this specific ‘type’ of breast implant. Besides the catchy name, what is the appeal of it?
Gummy bear implants are made of a highly cohesive silicone gel which does not act like a liquid. Rather it acts like a soft solid…just like the gummy bear candy. Compared with the previous types of liquid silicone gel implants, the silicone particles in the gummy bear implants are highly cross-linked so the gel is held more closely together. This creates a breast implant that has a more natural feel. It also creates a breast implant that when cut in half, the gel stays put. (as demonstrated in the video) This eliminates any concern about what happens when the implant shell ruptures which will inevitably occur in some patients over their lifetime. There would be no errant gel getting loose and running amuck in or beyond the breast implant pocket.
What most don’t realize is that today all silicone breast implants are of the gummy bear variety. The breast implant term, ‘gummy bear’, is really an urban and not a manufacturer’s term. While at one time unique to one specific manufacturer, all breast implant manufacturer’s have them.Three gummy bear implants are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States: Sientra’s Silimed implants, Allergan’s Natrelle 410 breast implant and Mentor’s MemoryShape™ Breast Implants, formerly known as the contour profile gel (CPG).
The only downside to a gummy bear breast implant is that its stiffer feel may necessitate a larger incision in which to insert it through. But this concern is overcome by the use of an insertion funnel which allows even large implants to be put in through relatively small incisions.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana