Have you ever pinched a gummy bear and thought, "that's what I want my boobs to feel like?" Neither have we.
But apparently, the "gummy bear" breast implant is the hottest new thing in the world of breast augmentation.
The implant is actually a high-strength silicone gel implant that holds it shape, even in the event of a rupture. It also feels similar to gummy bear candies: soft and squishy, making the implants more natural looking, unlike saline implants, which when overfilled can become hard.
More importantly, unlike other silicone implants which can easily cause gel migration, "gummy bear" implants have only a minimal chance of leakage, according to Dr. Grant Stevens, a plastic surgeon in California, who told Allure magazine when you cut into the implant, the material doesn't run hence the name:
“If you removed the shell covering, the silicone inside would retain its shape. I got tired of explaining to patients that they’re sort of like Jello—which, when you cut it in squares, holds its shape. One day I just said, ‘They’re like gummy bears.’"
Though "gummy bear" implants are not FDA approved, as of mid-March the FDA gave the okay for Sientra, a maker of plastic surgery implants, to market standard silicone gel implants in round and tear-drop shapes. But according to Allure, highly cohesive gel implants may be receiving approval soon.
Since the reintroduction of silicone implants in 2006, the number of silicone breast enhancements has increased rapidly. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, in 2011 breast augmentation was the second highest plastic surgery demanded by women and of 316,848 procedures performed, 69% were done with silicone implants as opposed saline.
Watch the video below to hear Dr. Stevens explain why some women are totally stoked about these new implants.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article stated the FDA had approved cohesive silicone gel implants. The FDA has actually only approved a standard silicone gel implant manufactured by Sientra. We regret the error.