Breast implants that is…
If you have heard any news at all about breast implants in the last few years the term “gummy bear” has probably been associated with them. These gummy bear implants are all the rage. They promise to revolutionize breast augmentation with safer breast implants that won’t leak if they break. But what exactly IS a gummy bear breast implant? It can be confusing. Lets take a look at the history of breast implants and the latest trends.
When breast augmentation started a wide variety of materials were used while doctors were searching for the best choice. Solid silicone, soft sponges, and other materials were tried with limited success. In fact, the very first breast augmentation ever done used a fatty tumor that had been removed from another area on the same patient. Then Dr. Cronin and Dr. Gerow in Houston, TX came up with the idea of liquid silicone in a plastic silicone bag. And the rest is history. Hundreds of thousands of women have had breast augmentation performed with silicone filled implants since that fateful day. But the implants have been updated over time.
In total there have been five generations of breast implants. The first implants used a very thin shell and thin liquid silicone. As the newer generations have been introduced the shell has gotten thicker and the silicone gel has gotten thicker as well. Today’s silicone gel implants have the thickest silicone gel ever used in breast implants. The gel is so thick that if you cut the implants completely in half they retain their shape. The silicone gel will very, very slowly run out of the shell. The newest implants available would hold their shape nearly forever. So, they are kind of like a gummy bear in that when you cut a gummy bear in half the two pieces keep their shape; and the gummy bear when whole is kind of spongy to feel like a breast implamt. So when the newest generation of implants were being introduced someone described them like gummy bears. And the name stuck.
Here’s the thing, while an implant that doesn’t leak if it breaks sounds like a good idea (and it is to some extent), it’s not the best idea for every patient. The newest breast implants that have the thickest gel do not flow as naturally as the softer implants. The do hold their shape better, which is good for some patients, but not for all patients. Sometimes the gummy bear implants are a little too firm and don’t give as natural an appearance and/or as natural a feel. The moral of the story is to be sure you discuss your options with your board certified plastic surgeon. He/she can help you learn about the choices available and help you pick the best breast implant to achieve your goals while taking into account your body and breast type. Remember, the gummy bear implants might be the best choice for you, but sometimes they’re not such a sweet deal.
