What is a “gummy bear” breast implant? Could it be right for you?
When patents come in to discuss breast implants, one of the first choices we talk about is what type of implant we want to use. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of implant and we use those considerations balanced with your goals and what type of breast tissue you have to help determine which implant to use.
“Gummy Bear” implants are shaped silicone gel implants. They are the newest implants available in the US, but have been used for many years in Europe. The gel is similar to the firmness and texture of the candy gummy bears. The gel itself is shaped to give more fullness at the bottom and less fullness at the top, like a natural breast. The filling in a regular silicone gel implant (not gummy bear) is more like a thick jelly. It does not have it’s own shape, but is determined by the shell. The gummy bear has it’s own shape and will not leak. If the shell fails, the silicone will not seep out of the implant, so it can’t get into your tissue. Also, they do not “ripple”. So, for someone who doesn’t have much natural breast tissue and wants a natural look, the gummy bear implants work very well. And the fact that they don’t leak makes them safer. For anyone who is interested in a more natural looking breast after augmentation, they can be a good choice.
They also have a very low capsular contracture rate. That means that they have a very low tendency to become hard and painful which can happen if the scar that your body makes around the implant gets tight.
The disadvantages are that the incision to place them is larger than for saline or regular silicone implants. They cost more that other implants, and the pocket has to be perfect so that they don’t turn in the pocket and cause the breast to look abnormal.
If you are interested in seeing if the shaped gel implants are a good choice for you, come in for a consult. I would love to help you go through the pros and cons and come up with the choice that is right for you.
Sonya Merriman, M.D.