If you are like countless women in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles considering breast implants, you've probably heard a lot recently about gummy bears – the very newest generation of silicone implants available. At Marina Plastic Surgery, we've got the facts, the falsehoods, and answers to all of your questions about these remarkable implants.
If you are like countless women in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles considering breast implants, you’ve probably heard a lot recently about gummy bears – the very newest generation of silicone implants available. At Marina Plastic Surgery, we’ve got the facts, the falsehoods, and answers to all of your questions about these remarkable implants.
Like the cute candy bears, the filling of these implants is at once soft and firm, pliant and cohesive, strong and beautiful. You can push, pull and even cut the material and it won’t lose its shape.
Dr. Grant Stevens is a pioneer in the use of these implants, and he can help answer all of your questions. Receive a FREE consultation with one of our surgeons when you request your appointment online and schedule during select times they have set aside exclusively for Web visitors.
Sientra®’s Silimed-brand implants – the original gummy bears – were approved by the FDA in March of 2012. Allergan’s Natrelle® 410s were approved in February of 2013. That means that, in addition to the gummy bears still in clinical trials, board-certified plastic surgeons are now able to offer these high-strength cohesive gel implants. But what makes these implants unique? What is all the buzz about? You’ve come to the right place to find out.
A: The semi-solid nature of the cohesive silicone gel filling resembles the feel of a gummy bear.
A: They generally offer a softer, more natural feel and are more likely to maintain their shape and upright position. They do not leak if the shell of the implant is cut, torn, or broken. Maintaining a more upright position decreases the likelihood of rippling, while the wrinkling that occurs from under-filled saline implants is avoided. Gel implants are also more easily camouflaged in women who have little tissue remaining after a mastectomy. In addition, they are not as easily felt under the skin.
A: While the widely available 4th generation silicone implants are very safe and effective, the Sientra Silimed-brand implants have an even stronger shell and lower incidence of complications.
A: We also offer the newly approved Natrelle 410 from Allergan. Mentor’s CPG is currently available on a clinical trial basis, and is anticipated to gain FDA approval in 2013. They are not available at this time.
A: The manufacturer has made Sientra implants available only through board-certified plastic surgeons. Allergan requires that surgeons complete a certification program before they can offer the Natrelle 410.