Breast implants have evolved considerably over the past five decades since they were introduced. Between improvements in the silicone filler materials and in the enveloping containment shell (bag), breast implants are both safer and have more options for women than ever before. Sientra, the newest provider of breast implants in the U.S., has continued to provide new innovations in their products in the few short years of their existence.
The new Sientra style 107 breast implant incorporates a high-strength cohesive gel (known as HSC +) which has been previously used on in their shaped breast implants in a smooth round implant. This combination provides a unique solution to certain problems in breast implant surgery, particularly revisional implant surgeries. With the 107 introduction, Sientra becomes the first manufacturer in the United States to incorporate HSC+ silicone gel into a 5th generation round breast implant.
The advantages of the Sientra style 107 breast implant are numerous. The 107 provides enhanced round implant shape retention with more residual volume in the upper pole of the implant when it is positioned vertically. The high strength silicone gel also has increased fracture resistance and is designed to minimize wrinkling and rippling. Such features were only seen previously in silicone shaped breast implants.
The most obvious physical change to the naked eye is that there is no ‘ash tray’ effect to the implant. Most previous silicone breast implants would have a concavity at the top of the implant when seen sitting horizontal. This was a function of the cohesiveness of the gel and the volume fill of the implant. Such an ‘ashtray effect’ means that even silicone implants could have some wrinkling and folds in them. With the HSC + gel in a round implant, this decreases wrinkling and is evident by a rounded top to the implant when laid flat on a table.
The Sientra style 107 breast implant is a good improvement and offers numerous advantages to both primary breast augmentation and revisional breast implant surgeries as well.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana