The term "gummy bear" implant was coined by a plastic surgeon to describe the higher cohesive silicone gel fill of the latest generation of all silicone implants as of 10 years ago.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

That’s a great question, and one that confuses lots of patients.

A breast implant contains an outer silicone shell and a filler material. Most breast implants contain either silicone gel or saline solution.

Both “silicone” and “gummy bear” implants are made by inserting liquid (or gel) silicone inside a more solid silicone shell.

Gummy bear breast implants have both a silicone shell and a silicone gel filling. Their theoretical advantage, compared with other silicone implants, is that gummy bear implants retain their shape but also leave breasts naturally soft to the touch.

Unlike traditional silicone-based breast implants, gummy bear implants retain their shape even if their shells are broken. This is because the gel is thicker. This may lead to fewer problems in the event of an implant rupture, since the gel may be more likely to stay in its original place rather than “migrate” to other areas in your body.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Gummy bear is the silicone implant. The old runny silicone is not available legally in U.S.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Let’s start by defining each implant.

1. Saline breast implants are a silicone shell that is filled with saline at the time of surgery, so they can be placed through very small incisions. However, they are prone to leaking the saline and as a result you can end up with a flat breast that requires implant placement. These implants are also prone to a wavy look also known as ripples.

2. Silicone gel filled implants are 4th generation implants that are a shell that is prefilled with a silicone gel. This gel is moderately cohesive or like a really thick glue or like a soft jelly. They require a little bigger incision, and have some ripple problems.

3. The gummy bear implants are the newest implant available. They are the so-called 5th generation implants and are called highly cohesive implants because when you cut them they maintain their shape just like a gummy bear candy. They also have a shell that is usually textured to reduce scarring or capsule contracture around your implant. This is a problem that can cause hardening of your implants and is the number one long term problem with breast implants.

There are almost as many opinions as to which is the best implant, but recent articles in the plastic surgery literature suggest that the Sientra gummy bear implants have the lowest rupture rate--and the toughest shell. They also have the very best warrantee.

The women I have spoken with who have had both saline and silicone, all swear that the silicone feels much better. I can tell you that the gummy bear implants look and feel much better as well.

I hope that helps.

Beat regards.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Google the company; they have extensive information on types of implants.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The silicone gel that is in today's implants is a cohesive gel. This means that the gel will stay together if there is a hole in the implant. The firmest silicone gel holds it shape in all positions and is considered the gummy bear implant.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Gummy bear implants are silicone, but not all silicone implants are "gummy bear" type. Silicone implants have gone through several "generations" since their introduction in the early 60's. Plastic surgeons refer to them by generational numbers. The gummy bear term was coined by a plastic surgeon for the latest or fifth generation of silicone, which is highly cohesive. That means the silicone is tightly bound chemically. The silicone of past generations was more liquid. The gummy bears, or fifth-generation silicone implants, don't "run" if the shell develops a leak. Currently, only one company makes round fifth-generation silicone implants, but 3 companies make a shaped or tear drop fifth-generation silicone implant.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Most, if not all, of the present models of silicone implants available by the manufacturers here in the US are "gummy bear;" that is, cohesive. So, if you cut through them, they would not be runny but stay together.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

They are different. Both have silicone as the fill material, but with the gummy bear implant the silicone is more solid in nature. This is referred to as cohesivity. All silicone implants have cohesive silicone gel. The difference is in how cohesive the gel is. The gummy bear implant is known as the 410 implant or anatomical implant. It has a breast shape instead of being round. As a consequence, the gel needs to be more cohesive in order to maintain this shape. A saline implant is not cohesive and would be on the opposite end of the spectrum from a gummy bear implant. Round silicone implants are in between.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Hello and thank you for your question. There has been much confusion around this topic since the form stable or "gummy bear" implants were FDA cleared to be used in primary breast augmentations. There IS a difference between silicone gel and form stable implants.

Standard silicone gel implants are considered fourth-generation implants. The gel is a thick, cohesive liquid. If these implants rupture they will leak, although the gel tends to stay together somewhat. These are not highly cohesive, form-stable, or "gummy" implants. Referring to them as such is misleading, as it implies that the implants will not leak if the shell fails. This is simply not the case.

There are implants that contain a silicone that is essentially solid, and these implants do have a much lower incidence of rupture than standard implants. These "gummy" or form-stable implants are considered fifth-generation. These implants are very popular in Europe and Australia, where they have been approved for quite some time, and have gained quite a bit of popularity in the US since their FDA approval in 2013.

Form stable implants have some advantages over standard silicone. They will likely last longer before they have to be replaced, may maintain their position longer, and appear to be more resistant to capsular contracture than standard silicone implants. These implants are best used in a particular subset of patients. The ideal candidate has a relatively small, snug breast envelope and desires a moderately sized, natural looking breast. There are potential downsides to the "gummies," however.

First and foremost, they require a significantly higher degree of precision on the surgeon's part when they are place. Unlike a standard round, smooth implant, shaped implants must be inserted into a surgical pocket with a snug "hand-in-glove" fit or they can rotate or migrate, requiring revisionary surgery. (This had an incidence of approximately 3% in clinical trials.) The form stable implants are more expensive than standard silicone gel, and require a larger incision for placement because they are less flexible and can fracture if over-stressed.

I recommend seeking a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Thank you for asking. Both of these breast implants are made from silicone. The "gummy bear" implants are one type of silicone that hold a particular shape. The reasons to use one over another depends on the patient and the needs of the case. See a board-certified plastic surgeon for further details. Best wishes!

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Gummy bear gel implants are silicone. The phrase "gummy bear" was coined by Sientra. They are just the silicone cohesive gel implants. I hope this helps!

Published on Jul 11, 2012