Gummy Bear Implants Pros and Cons in Boston (Before and After Photos)

In 2013, the FDA approved a new type of silicone breast implant, part of the 5th generation of implants known as highly cohesive. These implants, also called “gummy bear” or “form stable” implants, have a firm silicone gel that allows them to maintain their shape even if they rupture or tear. This feature offers greater peace of mind for breast implant patients who want safer, more reliable breast augmentation results.

Still, these implants offer a few disadvantages that may offset their benefits for some women. Let’s take a look at some of these pros and cons.

Gummy Bear Implants Pros & Cons for Boston Patients

Since gummy bear implants hold their shape, it is possible to design them to mimic the natural tear-drop shape of the breast, thicker at the bottom and tapered toward the top. These are sometimes called “anatomical” or “anatomically shaped” breast implants.

Pros

• An implant that retains its shape allows for more precise control of the result.
• Firmer gel means less chance of folding or rippling.
• A tear-drop implant shape creates very natural-looking results.
• They are also available as round, smooth implants that don’t require texturing of the shell.
• Like other implants, gummy bear implants can be placed using an inframammary incision in the fold under the breast, a periareolar incision around the areola, or a transaxillary incision in the armpit.

Cons

• An implant that retains its shape means the breasts won’t naturally flatten as much when lying down.
• The firmer gel makes the implants feel firmer to the touch.
• Anatomically shaped gummy bear implants have a “top” and a “bottom,” which means if they rotate in the body, they will cause visible distortion. Choosing an experienced plastic surgeon who will place the implants correctly is essential to preventing their rotation.
• Anatomically shaped gummy bear implants are usually textured (round gummy bear implants do not have to be textured). This shell texture is associated with a higher risk for breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Breast augmentation is highly customized. It offers patients many options for finding just the right implant for their body shape, goals, and lifestyles, whether that’s a highly cohesive gummy bear implant, a less cohesive silicone implant, or a saline implant. I talk more about choosing between silicone and saline implants in my related blog post.

Are Results Better With Gummy Bear Implants?

Skilled plastic surgeons can create beautiful, natural-looking results with most types of breast implants, from gummy bear to saline implants. I gained experience with gummy bear implants as a resident at UCLA while the implants were undergoing trial, so I have worked with them for many years.

Gummy bear implants are not the optimal choice in every case. Proper patient selection and precise technique, however, can lead to great results, as my patients’ photos below show.

Discuss Your Implant Options

If you’re considering breast augmentation, request a consultation using our online form or call us at (781) 740-7840 . We can talk about your breast implant options during your consultation so you can make an informed decision.