cohesive gel implants AKA gummy bear implants

[bayareamom]

Hello,

I am new to this board.
After 2 children at the age of 26 I have decided to begin working towards getting a breast lift.
By this I mean doing my homework, finding a reputable/amazing DR in my area and exactly the right option for me.
I am highly interested in cohesive gel implants also known as gummy bear implants.
Mainly because of what I have heard or read so far, able to choose shape in order to achieve a more natural look, different style implants and the feel of the implants.
Please let me know what your opinions are regarding this style implants.
I originally wanted a lift only but after research I realized that usually it is advised both lift and implant are needed.
At this point Im just so confused/under knowledge in the whole field.

[virus]

i had mine done two months ago with cohesive gel implants. i have no complaints to the implant itself

[Nola]

I can't give you any input about the lift but regarding the cohesive gel implants I can tell you, that in Europe this is a type of implant that PSs use the most and most of the women with BA has them. Me too, and so far i'm very happy with them.

[KLIK]

I haven't had mine yet....MONDAY (yea) but so far in all my research I found a couple of things regarding "cohesive gel"
1. there are a couple different kinds
gummy= already formed shaped implants (these are going to be a thicker gel..literally like a gummy bear is)
cohesive gel = (this gel is like the consistency of say hair gel. when cut in half it stays in the shell) generally everything else.... ie the round, high profile, low profile, moderate profile (you get the idea)
what I understand from my ps is that with the "gummy" already formed implants or "anatomical" they have a greater risk of deformity ensuing because the implant always wants to "rotate" and shift in the pocket. Therefore if the "anatomical" or "gummy" were to shift you would end up with a pretty funky lookin boob.

I hope I was able to at least give you a springboard of info....and by no means are the anatomicals less viable as a choice my ps just told me the risk involved with them.

[bayareamom]

Thanks for the feedback ladies!
Nola and Virus, were you able to choose your shape? Such as teardrop vs round?
The reason I am so into the Cohesive implant vs traditional is mainly because I do not like the round traditional look of an implant. I really want something very natural looking, mainly for lift purposes not size induction.

Thanks!

Klik, I have also been reading that this can happen if the pocket for insertion is not exactly the right size or shape.
Thanks for the info!

[JCsMomma]

Aren't gummy bears not approved for general use in the US yet?

[Val]

I just had Inamed style 410 anatomical implants put in on Monday. They are EXACTLY what I wanted.
They are high and tight now but there are absolutely no visible edges in the upper portion of the breast. I do
not like the round look with the high visible edges either. I live in Canada where these implants were approved two years ago. They are extremely popular here for natural looking augmentations. It was only when these implants were approved that I even considered an augmentation, because I don't like the fake look.

[Nola]

Originally Posted by bayareamom

Thanks for the feedback ladies!
Nola and Virus, were you able to choose your shape? Such as teardrop vs round?
The reason I am so into the Cohesive implant vs traditional is mainly because I do not like the round traditional look of an implant. I really want something very natural looking, mainly for lift purposes not size induction.

My PS told me that also with a a round implant you can acheve a completely natural look, it all depends on the characteristics of the breast he is working on. I didn't have any sag and had only little tissue to begin with and because i wanted a natural look, he recomended teardrops for me. But he has shown me pictures of breasts, which I would say where augumented with teardrops, but acctually they had rounds in them. They still looked completely natural. So... it all depends. I would say make sure to tell the surgent exactly what you want and make sure he understood you and than just trust him... he should know best how he will be able to make your dreams come true. Good luck!!!

[chickie32]

Originally Posted by JCsMomma

Aren't gummy bears not approved for general use in the US yet?

no they're not - not for the general market. in order to get them you must sign to consent for their 'silicone study' that's still being conducted here in the US (the FDA had *finally* approved the other cohesive silicones that we all now can get, 'level 1' and 'level II').

hth

[allina]

I asked my ps about the gummy implants - I believe there are only 2 states participating and you have to go to a ps that is signed up with the study - for some reason i want to say it is california and texas? if you google it you find out more about which ps's are participating

[chickie32]

well Mentor is based in CA, so yea definitely. i forgot where Inamed is......maybe someone else here will know....

[Sheila]

Originally Posted by bayareamom

Thanks for the feedback ladies!
Nola and Virus, were you able to choose your shape? Such as teardrop vs round?
The reason I am so into the Cohesive implant vs traditional is mainly because I do not like the round traditional look of an implant. I really want something very natural looking, mainly for lift purposes not size induction.

Thanks!

Klik, I have also been reading that this can happen if the pocket for insertion is not exactly the right size or shape.
Thanks for the info!

I got round ones and it does look pretty natural; didn't want that really spherical look. My ps said they will drop and take on a more natural shape. Sorry my sig. may not show it so well, i've got on a push up bra.

[virus]

i actually got round implants, i would show you a picture but i haven't actually firgured out how to use this site yet.lol. mine are 450 cc, and i was a A cup before and now a D cup,

[Val]

Hi... I did TONS of research about the gummy bear implants before I got them. There is a lot of misinformation on this forum about what a 'cohesive gel' implant is. Here's a post I made on another thread a few days ago:

In Europe, “cohesive gel” refers to the form-stable, textured anatomical implants marketed by Inamed (Style 410), Mentor (Contour Memory Gel) and Silimed. These are the true ‘gummy bear’ implants – when you cut into the implant, the fill retains its shape and does not leak out. They are extremely popular basically everywhere but the United States because they produce a very natural result and have low complication rates. They’ve been in use in Europe since the early 90’s, and were approved in Canada in 2006 but in use by special permit from 2001.

Strangely, these true form-stable ‘cohesive gel’ implants are NOT available in the United States. When the FDA reapproved silicone implants in 2006 what they approved were implants not substantially different from the ones banned in 1992. However implant makers are marketing these old-style silicone implants in the U.S. as “cohesive gel” in an effort to rebrand these implants as something substantially different than the ones chased off the market in the wake of the ridiculous Dow-Corning litigation. They are not.

It’s quite the marketing scam. Sure – the re-approved silicone fill is thicker and stickier than the pre-1992 implant fill. But it is not form stable. If you cut into one of these implants a sticky silicone will leak out. It can spread outside the implant pocket or at minimum create a sticky mess inside the pocket if the shell ruptures. The true ‘gummy bears’ do not do this.

In the U.S. the true ‘cohesive gel’ Inamed Style 410 and Mentor Contour Memory Gel implants are only available in clinical trials. Both companies have PMA applications before the FDA. These implants will probably be approved soon. The published complication and reoperation rate data on these implants – particularly the Inamed Style 410 – is extremely good compared to the approved silicone round implants, with overall reoperation rate (size change as usual the #1 reason) of 12.5% over three years and a capsular contracture rate of only 1.9% I’m attaching links to safety data.

Oh… one other thing. The true form-stable cohesive gel implants are always anatomical, and surface is always textured so that it will adhere to the chest wall to prevent rotation. There is no such thing as a smooth ‘cohesive gel’ implant.

In Canada these implants are really popular because the PS tend to be more conservative and people prefer a more natural look than in the U.S.

Background & FAQ’s on form-stable ‘cohesive gel’ implants:

Chapter from “The Best Breast” on implant types, includes summaries of published data on both old-style silicone and true "cohesive gel'" implants: http://www.thebestbreast.com/book/chapter/5#f5_1t

Cohesive implants website: http://www.cohesiveimplants.com/
(This site provides links to US plastic surgeons who do these implants by clinical trial.

Safety data from 2006 Health Canada approval of cohesive implants:

Inamed Style 410: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodp..._88573-eng.php
Mentor Contour Memory Gel: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/alt_f..._86150-eng.pdf

Cohesive Gel Before/After pix from Canadian site:
http://www.********.ca
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