Gummy Bear vs. Silicone Implants
When considering breast augmentation, one of the biggest decisions you have to make is regarding the implant selection. Currently, most patients opt for silicone implants because they’re the most natural in feel, texture, and appearance. They’re also a lot less likely to show wrinkles, folds, or creases through the skin, making them the preferable option.
However, not all cohesive-gel silicone implants are built alike. You can choose between “gummy bear” silicone implants or traditional silicone implants, and that’s where the choice becomes tricky. Both types of breast implants look incredibly natural, but they have their unique sets of advantages and potential drawbacks.
This article aims to highlight the differences between traditional silicone implants and the gummy bear variants.
What are gummy bear implants?
“Gummy bear” is a non-scientific term used to describe silicone implants filled with dense and highly-cohesive gel. These are form-stable silicone implants that retain their shape even when the outer shell breaks, just like gummy bears. The cohesive gel inside these implants is thick rather than liquid, so it doesn’t leak out of the shell. Gummy bear implants can be round or teardrop-shaped, i.e., narrow at the top and broader at the base, and they feel natural to the touch.
What are traditional silicone implants?
Traditional silicone implants are also filled with a cohesive gel, but they’re softer than gummy bear implants. Their softness makes them resemble the natural bounce and texture of actual breast tissues more closely than gummy bear implants. Traditional silicone implants also contain cohesive gel, but they’re not as form-stable as gummy bear implants. They also carry a higher chance of the gel leaking out when the shell breaks.
What are the differences between traditional silicone implants and gummy bear implants?
The primary difference between traditional silicone implants and gummy bear implants lies in the consistency of the gel contained within the shell. The consistency of the cohesive gel in gummy bear implants is thicker and more “form-stable,” i.e., there’s no chance of it leaking out of the shell. No matter what happens, gummy bear implants will retain their original shape.
Both gummy bear implants and traditional silicone implants are softer than saline implants, resembling the texture and bounce of natural breasts. However, gummy bear implants are slightly harder than traditional silicone implants because of the higher density of their cohesive gel. Traditional silicone implants have more bounce, though the difference isn’t significant.
Gummy bear implants are a little safer than traditional silicone implants because there’s no risk of the silicone leaking out into the breast tissues if the implant shell is ruptured. Traditional silicone implants use strong shells with a negligible risk of rupturing, so they’re also safe, but they’re more likely to leak out than gummy bear implants.
Gummy bear implants also provide a unique advantage to women undergoing breast reconstruction after a mastectomy — they don’t depend on existing breast tissues. However, they also necessitate longer incisions on the skin than traditional silicone implants or saline implants.
As such, both gummy bear implants and traditional silicone implants have their unique advantages and disadvantages. At Premier Plastic Surgery, our cosmetic surgeons discuss your cosmetic expectations and goals to recommend the ideal breast implant options for your unique needs. Please schedule an appointment to discuss your treatment options today.