What Are The Benefits Of The New Gummy Bear Breast Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in getting breast augmentation and the new gummy bear breasts implants have me intrigued. They seem like they would be so much better than a bag of water or a bag of liquid silcone gel. Can you give me some more information about them? What happens to the material if they rupture? Do they feel soft and natural? How long do they last?

A: The use of the term ‘gummy bear’ breast implant is an urban term, not a medical one or one used by any manufacturer of them. That is a term given to them many years ago by a plastic surgeon because of how the material feels and behaves. This is a more cohesive high-strength silicone gel that does act somewhat similar to the also named candy, although I think they do feel a little softer than the candy. If you cut the implant in half and squeeze on it, it does behave like the candy. The material stays together, does not run, and only puffs out when the implant sides are completely squeezed together. I have attached a video to this answer so you can see better how they behave once cut. This would represent the most extreme form of an implant ‘rupture’ so there are no concerns about the material migrating elsewhere in the body. Since the material does not leave the shell or containment bag if it should develop a hole or tear, the outward appearance of the breast will not change. (deflate or become deformed) The lifespan of the new gummy bear implants is not known although it would be fair to say that they are going to last longer than saline implants or any older generation silicone gel breast implant. This is without a doubt the best breast implant that I have  ever seen and is the most common one I use for my breast augmentation patients.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana