Breast in Show: Are Gummy Bear Implants the Next Breast Thing?

If you are considering breast augmentation with implants, you may have heard some buzz about the latest — and possibly greatest — option in the breast implant category — the highly cohesive gel or “gummy bear” breast implant.

Gummy bear implants are not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States, but they are currently available just about everywhere else. In the U.S., only women enrolled in clinical trials can opt for “gummies.”

So what is so great about these implants anyway? Are they worth waiting for if you are considering breast augmentation surgery?

Meet the Gummy Bear Implant

Gummy bear implants are made of a highly cohesive, form-stable silicone gel. Compared with the currently available silicone gel implants, the silicone particles in the gummy bear implants are more cross-linked, so the material bands together more closely. This “form-stable” quality is where some of the advantages of gummy bear implants come into play.

Any errant gel from the currently available silicone gel implants can migrate and may cause local problems such as scarring and granulomas (small areas of inflammation in tissue). If saline-filled implants rupture, they release only salt water into the body. This is good from a safety perspective, but saline implants do not feel as natural as silicone gel implants.

Here's where gummy bears shine. If you cut a gummy bear implant in half, the gel stays put. As a result, there is minimal risk of gel migration. If the implant shell ruptures (and they can), the gel should stay in one place. This puts them on par with saline when it comes to rupture (a safety plus), but with the feel of natural breast tissue (a cosmetic plus).

According to some experts, the new cohesive gel implants may also pose a lower risk of capsular contracture (scar tissue around the breast implant). Exactly why this occurs, and if it proves to be true in the long run, is unknown, but it may be a result of how firm the new implants are.

There are some downsides to the newest player in breast enhancement. Some board-certified plastic surgeons feel that the cohesive gel is simply too hard and firm. The “form-stable” attribute means that they must be inserted through a larger incision, since their shape can't be altered. The incision length may be up to 5.5 centimeters, depending upon the size of the implant. Smaller incisions are used for today's silicone gel and saline-filled breast implants.

So What's Taking So Long?

The FDA is currently reviewing data on the 410 breast implant, which is being manufactured by Allergan; the contour profile gel (CPG) from Mentor; and a high-strength cohesive implant from Sientra (which is known outside the U.S. as Silimed).

Whether or not the FDA will give its nod to any or all of these implants — and when that may occur — is anyone's guess. Study investigators say the data looks good, and that post-marketing studies are ongoing. For now, all eyes are on the FDA. Stay tuned.

Are They Worth Waiting for?

There is no way of knowing when, or if, cohesive gel implants will come to market. That said, there are good options for breast implant surgery available right now. And depending on your cosmetic goals, gummy bear implants may not be the best choice.

Both the CPG and the 410 are anatomical, or “tear-drop,” shaped, which means they project more on the bottom than the top. This is due to the consistency of the new filler. If you are going for that Victoria's Secret model look, a round-shaped implant is still the better bet. These are available today with saline-filled and traditional silicone-gel-filled implants. (The new high-strength cohesive implant from Sientra may also be made available in the round shape.)

If you are ready, willing and able to have surgery now, make your selection based on what is currently available. If you decide to wait for these newer options to get approved, choose a board-certified surgeon who has experience (i.e., one who was involved in the clinical trials), because there will likely be a learning curve for breast surgeons.

Gummy Bear Implant Cost

Exact pricing points are not available and will not be until the new implants make it to market, but gummy bear implants will cost significantly more than saline-filled implants and the currently available silicone-gel implants.

Breast Implants 4 You is an educational resource for patients seeking breast enhancement surgery. Individuals can learn more about breast augmentation cost and view a photo gallery of breast augmentation before and afters.