Gummy Bear Breast Implants
“Gummy bear implants” refers to silicone breast implants which have textured surfaces and are usually shaped rather than round. The most well-known gummy bear implant in the US is likely Allergan’s 410 style breast implant. Mentor’s version is their CPG (Contour Profile Gel) implant. Sientra also sells a full line of textured, shaped implants.
All of these implants have 2 things in common: they all have a textured rather than a smooth surface, and they are all filled with a thick form of silicone gel called “highly cohesive gel.” These implants are also known as form stable implants, because the gel is so thick that it maintains the shape of the implant. The other feature all gummy bear implants share is their textured surface. To simplify, as explained when discussing capsular contracture, the body forms scar tissue around any implant. When the implant surface is textured, the scar tissue essentially grows into the “nooks and crannies” of the implant. In essence, this type of scar tissue reaction to the textured surface causes the capsule to act like Velcro, with the implant being less likely to move. This type of scar tissue growth also seems to break up the direction of the scar tissue and thereby lowers the incidence of capsular contracture.
What are the pluses of using Gummy Bear Implants?
Gummy bear implants have a lower incidence of capsular contracture.
They also have a lower chance of moving lower over time (“bottoming out”).
What are the minuses of using Gummy Bear Implants?
Because they are shaped, gummy bear implants have a real risk of rotation.
Although the risk of capsular contracture is lower, all gummy bear implants feel stiffer.
Because the implants don’t move, they appear less natural in movement, including when running or jumping.
Are there any safety concerns using Gummy Bear Implants?
There have been recent safety concerns regarding textured implants, including gummy bear implants. These center around a condition called ALCL (anaplastic large cell lymphoma). This is a rare form of lymphoma (cancer) which, according to recently released data, is associated (albeit very rarely) with textured breast implants. The exact increased risk for developing ALCL is unknown, but some respected scientists estimate that it might be as high as 1 in 4000-5000. There seem to be zero confirmed cases where there wasn’t a textured implant in place at some point.
Call for a consultation today 323-587-7000
They Can Help You
At Stay Beautiful, our goal is to attain the highest level of patient satisfaction. We are here to help you reach all your goals. From the time you enter our beautiful waiting room expect to receive the highest level of care. Our facilities are equipped with the latest and safest technologies in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.