Nearly 300,000 breast augmentation cosmetic surgery procedures are performed every year in the US. One of the reasons behind the growing popularity of breast augmentation is the introduction of advanced quality silicone implants called gummy bear implants.
Allergan, Sientra and Mentor are three leading breast implant manufacturers that have been approved by the FDA to produce gummy bear implants. Dr. Hisham Seify is a board certified plastic surgeon providing breast implants and various other procedures to patients in Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, and surrounding locations.
Form Stable Implants
Gummy bear implants are also known as form stable implants because they can maintain their form and shape even under pressure. To mimic the natural breast shape, gummy bear implants are anatomically shaped, thicker at the bottom and tapered towards the top. Results with breast augmentation plastic surgery are aesthetically superior with gummy bear implants and the touch and feel of these implants is better.
The silicone gel core contained in these form stable implants is of a high viscosity. The thick gel does not flow out to other areas of the body even when the implant is damaged or broken into two parts. A growing number of women are now choosing gummy bear implants due to their superior performance.
Other Benefits
Gummy bear implants provide greater fullness to the bottom of the breasts. The firmer silicone gel reduces the incidence of implant wrinkling. Patients should be aware that all of the gummy bear implants are textured. Some of the latest research studies have indicated that the textured implants may reduce the risk of the patient developing capsular contracture.
Leading cosmetic surgeon Dr. Seify receives patients from Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, and surrounding locations. During the pre-op consultation, Dr. Seify will discuss about various implant options and explain the pros and cons of each. Patients should make the optimal choice according to their aesthetic needs and goals.
Cohesive but not Solid
Gummy bear implants are not solid. These highly cohesive gel implants are produced from a semi-solid gel contained within an outer shell. While the gel is more cohesive than others, it should not be considered solid merely because of its name ‘gummy bear’.
Implant rupture can still occur with gummy bear implants, but the advantage is that the highly viscous gel does now leak out to other areas. Therefore, the health risks are minimized with these implants. Whether or not these implants are suited to an individual patient will be decided by the surgeon, but in a majority of cases, these implants are deliver superior value and satisfaction to the patients.
Affordability
Patients should note that gummy bear implants will usually be a little more expensive as compared to traditional saline and silicone gel implants. However, the cost of implants will only make a marginal difference to the overall sticker price of breast augmentation. Therefore, it is always a judicious idea to choose the type of implants on the basis of their appropriateness in terms of matching the patient’s specific aesthetic needs.