By Jeffrey S. Poulter, MD, FACS, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
If you are considering breast augmentation surgery, you may have heard about “gummy bear” implants — the newest generation of silicone gel implants available today.
Like the cute candy bears we’re all familiar with, gummy bear breast implants have a semi-solid nature that resembles the feel of a gummy bear. But don’t be fooled by their nickname.
Anatomically shaped, these implants mimic the curve and feel of real breast tissue and are quickly becoming the most popular type of silicone gel breast implant women ask for.
The clinical term for this type of implant is “form-stable” or “highly cohesive.” In essence, they are soft solids. They are soft enough to squeeze, yet they go back to their original shape when the pressure is released.
Allergan Natrelle® 410
These high-strength implants are designed to be longer lasting than other types of implants and provide an attractive shape and natural feel that rivals Mother Nature’s best work.
The Natrelle® 410 collection has a broad range of implants with a design just right for your body type and breast augmentation goals. With more than 140 different implant styles and shapes, Natrelle® 410 provides truly personalized breast augmentation, giving patients more choices and more control over their breast shape than ever before.
There are tall implants, wide implants and highly projecting implants that allow for selective augmentation of a particular area of the breast when needed. Highly cohesive implants also have a textured surface that helps them stay in the correct position and prevents them from rotating.
I have had experience placing textured, shaped implants since 1995 when the McGhan 468 saline implants became available. There is a highly effective technique — called the “hand in glove” — for creating the implant pocket that not only optimizes the appearance of a shaped implant, it minimizes rotation and possible complications, with excellent patient results. The end result is natural-looking fullness, cleavage that’s normal in appearance, and youthful perkiness.
Advantages of Highly Cohesive Implants
Standard silicone gel implants have a viscosity somewhere between liquid and solid. The Natrelle® 410 implant’s filling, on the other hand, is slightly more firm and offers a soft, supple feel. In fact, our patients report that one of the things they love most is the natural feel they create.
Highly cohesive implants like the Natrelle® 410 have also been shown to decrease the risk of complications, including the development of excess scar tissue — clinically referred to as capsular contracture. What’s more, their added firmness, coupled with their textured surface, help minimize wrinkling of the implant.
Natrelle® 410 implants are safe; every option is FDA-approved. In fact, the Natrelle® 410’s safety and natural shape make them a first choice for breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy. Their cohesive nature also means they are far less susceptible to leaking. They can be more expensive, but in the right patient, they are well worth the expense — especially when you consider the added safety features.
Natrelle® 410 implants are indicated for women at least 22 years of age. Breast implants are not recommended for women with active infection anywhere in their body; women with existing cancer or pre-cancer of their breast who have not received adequate treatment for those conditions; and women who are currently pregnant or nursing.
Jeffrey S. Poulter, MD, FACS, a board-certified plastic surgeon, offers both saline (saltwater) and silicone gel-filled breast implants, including the new gummy bear implants. Each implant has its own unique characteristics, and implant selection is largely a matter of individual preference that will be discussed in detail during the consultation. Dr. Poulter is located at Senara in Peoria and at the Center for Cosmetic and Laser Surgery in Bloomington. For more information, call 888-841-4108 or visit www.drpoulter.com.
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