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Should I Wait for New Breast Implant Technology?

Plan to have breast implants surgery for this year but want to make sure some new breast implant technology isn't just around the corner. Preference is to wait if there's some new great breast implant that's safer and more natural feeling. thankyou for the comments

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silicone implant

No New Technology Impending

There is no new implant technology on the horizon to have you delay your decision for breast augmentation.

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Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

There may be some advantages with cohesive gel implants but there will be disadvantages as well

Gummy bear implants are the newest generation of silicone breast implants used for breast augmentation. They are otherwise known as form stable cohesive gel implants and are used for breast enhancement frequently in Europe and South America. They were invented in the early 1990's. They are not yet FDA approved for use in the United States aside from clinical studies. These implants were developed with two goals in mind: 1) decrease the gel bleed and associated problems in breast augmentaton... more

York Jay Yates, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

New Silicone Gel and Saline Breast Implants Are the Best

Dear Rori, Thank you for your question. There have always been new breast implants on the horizon, but over the past 25 years the saline and silicone gel implants have always won out over new competing products. The current silicone gel implants have undergone vigorous testing and study by the FDA and the new implants approved for use in the United States are the best breast implant that we have ever had. Any new implant technology that would be significantly different from the breast... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

New Breast Implant Technology

There is no new breast implant technology around the corner that will hit the market soon. The only possible change in the U.S. may be the introduction of form-stable silicone implants. These implants are currently undergoing FDA review and it is unclear when they will be available. The advantage of these implants will be that the silicone filler is more cohesive than current silicone filler and may have less rippling and be able to hold anatomic shapes better. ... more

Naveen Setty, MD

Plano Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast implant technology

There really are no "new" breast implant technologies on the horizon. The closest thing to a new implant are the form-stable cohesive implants. These are anatomically shaped silicone implants. The studies are ongoing but FDA approval can take many years. In addition, some of the results from the use of these devices in Europe have not all been positive. If you are considering breast augmentation, I would not hold out waiting for the "ideal" implant to come onto the... more

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David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

It will be hard to improve on present day breast implants.

If you are waiting on a breakthrough in breast implant technology, I think it will be some time. Breast implants, in spite of much "conventional wisdom", are extremely safe and deliver excellent results most of the time. They do not cause systemic illness and last for many years. The only recurrent problem is capsular contracture and there may be treatment for this in the near future. I do not think this will be implant design, however.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Latest generation breast implants give great results.

HI. I don't believe any new breast implants that may become available in the next few years will be better for the vast majority of women. So go ahead. The limiting factor in the quality of the result is how well the breast augmentation is done, not the implants.

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast Implant Technology

Breast implants have been around for over 40yrs and breast augmentation has been a top sought after plastic surgery procedure for years. This procedure is well established and safe - as well as the implants that have been extensively studied. There is no significant change in the current technology in the near future. Stem cells may some day play a role in breast augmentation, but that is likely decades away. For now feel comfortable that patients who undergo the procedure do very well and... more

Bahram Ghaderi, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

No

Breast implant surgery is regularly at the top of the list for the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures and literally millions of breasts have been augmented over the years. I believe that it is a safe and well worked out procedure that makes people feel better about themselves. While we are always looking for newer and better products, there are no new implant types likely to come out in the near future.

Darrick E. Antell, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

I'd go ahead with the procedure now

There will always be new technology in anything that we do; there will be new car designs, new electronic devices, faster computers, etc. With breast implants, the current saline and silicone gel implant technology is excellent. They are safe, time-tested and yield excellent results. The current "gel" implants are called "cohesive" (do not run if cut or rupture). Newer generation form-stable ("gummy bear") implants are still being studied in Europe and are... more

Scott Greenberg, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Saline Breast Implants and Improving Technology: Is there anything new out there for breast implants

In the United States, saline breast implants are still very popular and are often the first choice for women who are seeking primary breast augmentation. Silicone is not always the best first option for women with normal amounts of breast tissue. Saline implants continue to improve in terms of their design and risk of complications including capsular contracture and leakage. There are some newer studies in Europe that employ medications to decrease the risk of capsular contracture in the... more

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

There is no reason to wait if you currently desire breast augmentation.

The current generation of silicone gel implants are a cohesive gel implant. They, however, are not THE cohesive gel implants or gummy bear implants that you discuss. These gummy bear implants are more cohesive, firmer, and less pliable. They are a form-stable type of implant, meaning the shape does not change. They are more anatomic, but they may not give you the "natural augmented look" that many women desire. They are not without problems or issues as well. These gummy bear... more

Sanjay Grover MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Current technology has a good track record other implant ideas merely research

Your question is a very interesting one that triggers a long answer citing the current research history on more natural, soy based, self filling implants, Hyaluronic etc... The short answer however is that as of today the technology available is pretty advanced and yields a large satisfaction between patients. All the other more natural implant ideas were more research ideas that never proven to deliver a safe implant. You have to spend time gathering data about all the different types of... more

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

No..present implants for cosmetic augs probably better

For cosmetic augs, the presently available implants will not likely be surpassed by the new ones for softness and natural look. I don't see any reason to wait for "new" technology at this time.

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Bruce K. Barach, MD

Schenectady Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

New breast implant technology

Cohesive gel implants are the newest thing out there; but it still is not FDA approved yet. These are firmer implants than the gel implants that patients are getting now. They are supposed to prevent oozing if the implant ruptures. Its supposed to maintain its shape like jello. Other than that, there is nothing specifically new on the horizon that wil be available within the next year.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Good impants available now

The round silicone implants used now have a lot of advantages, the main one being that they feel very natural. Some people are waiting for approval of the form-stable implants, popularly called "gummy bear" implants. There is a bit of confusion here because they are also called "cohesive" implants which means that the gel holds together even when the implant is cut open; the reason it is confusing is that the gel used now is also cohesive, just softer. There are a few... more

Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Now is the time

I am most familiar with McGhan/Inamed/Allergan. They have a new implant that is more of a formed (almost gummy bear) type of implant. It has a number classification like 410 (not exactly sure). Unfortunately, Allergan is not giving a release date so it may be this year, or next year, or even later. I am not sure what Mentor has up their sleeve. sek

Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

I'd go ahead now

I would recommend that you not wait and go ahead now after choosing the best surgeon. The current gel and saline implants are excellent and safe. Your end result will be much more dependent on who does your surgery and how good your starting point is than on waiting for future implants. All future implants will have the same follow-up issues, and similarly small complication rates so I would suggest you go ahead now.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Current implant options are excellent

Hi there- I understand where you're coming from--it seems every time I get a new gizmo, a better one is announced (sometimes even for less money!). You need not worry in the case of breast implants, though. I say this because the implant designs and manufacturing techniques are constantly being improved by the major manufacturers in the US- and the most recent, cohesive silicone gel designs are the most natural feeling implants we have ever had access to- with the most strongly proven... more

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Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Beware of New and Improved

The current generation of cohesive gel breast implants have completed 10 year studies with excellent safety outcomes (http://www.natrelle.ca/silicone_safety.asp). There is no great push to improve on the current implants. This should give you good confidence that the current product is a good one. You should always be concerned when you see a product that is 'new and improved', because it generally means there was a problem with the old product, and there would be insufficient experience... more

Michael Kreidstein, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

The facts about breast implants

Dear Rori, There are no new earth-shattering developments in implant technology on the horizon. There are two general types of implants and many subtypes. The two main types are saline and silicone. Please remember that this refers to filler material since all implants contain a silicone shell. The main subtypes are round vs. tear drop shape; and smooth vs. textured. Studies have confirmed the safety of implants in general and specifically the silicone gel implants. The current silicone gell... more

A. Peter Salas, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

If you have decided on breast todays implants are great

While surely there will always be better everything, the saline filled and gel filled breast implants of today are great and have few problems. They are not perfect but the results today are outstanding and the most frequent and severe problems of the past are pretty well resolved. So, if you are sure that augmentation mamoplasty is for you and you are in good health and you have consulted with a good Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, I see no reason to wait. Almost all my patients are... more

Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD

Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

You can't bank on the future

One thing that the history of breast implants reveals is that technological advances do not always pan out. We can only be sure of what we know based on the past, not on future expectations. I always tell patients that breast implant surgery is imperfect. There will always be some risk or undesirable side effect to be concerned about. Technology has improved certain things but not all and have produced some undesirable consequences. For example, polyurethrane-covered implants, pre-filled... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Go ahead and have surgery now.

There is no benefit to waiting for a new implant technology at this time. The implants that should be available to the market soon are not significantly different from the current implants. There are different shapes and slightly more cohesive gel products. The silicone and saline implants availble today are the best implants thus far. Both Allergan and Mentor have improved the shell of the implants to be much less likely to leak or rupture. The silicone gel is a cohesive product. It... more

David A. Dreyfuss, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

There will always be changes in implant styles and technology

There will always be new implant technology. Currently I am not aware of anything new except Allergan Style 410 implants. This is a shaped, gel filled, textured implant that will come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It shows promise in individualizing the operation since the height, width and projection can be individually altered. The implant is currently available in Canada and is undergoing FDA trials in the US. If you are interested a web search will give you information from Canada. more