Can you tell me more about Mentor Siltex, round, moderate plus profile, xtra, gel implants?

Question

Are these "gummy bear"? And what is their safety rating? Are they smooth or textured? Thank you - I am researching implants and am interested in these Mentor ones.

Ram Kalus, MD, FACS · Answer

The term “gummy bear” can be confusing and mean different things to different people, but it generally refers to a thicker silicone gel that is less likely to leak in a traditional sense like a true liquid. All of the silicone gel filled implants today are filled with this more cohesive type gel, whether the implant is round or anatomic shaped. As a rule, the anatomic shaped implants are a bit firmer to help hold on to their shape.

Mentor (and  Sientra) have two types of surfaces on their round implant shells: smooth and textured. The anatomic shaped implants are only available as textured, since this helps reduce the risk of rotation, which is not a concern with a round implant. 
“Siltex” is simply the brand name for the textured surface of the Mentor line of implants. The implants made by Allergan (“Natrelle”) are ONLY round and smooth. The textured Allergan implants (both round and anatomic shaped) have been withdrawn from the market because of their association with a rare type of cancer that can develop after time known as ALCL (Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma).

Saline filled implants are also available by Mentor, Allergan, and IDEAL. The shells of all of these implants are silicone, but the fill is salt water and NOT silicone gel.

Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who can advise you on all of your options. Best of luck to you.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Siltex are textured and can be round or shaped.  Smooth implants are called smooth. Mentor uses different types of gel that vary with softness. I am not a fan of the gummy bear implants since they are too hard for most women. I also prefer the smooth implants for fewer long term risks.

Can you tell me more about Mentor Siltex, round, moderate plus profile, xtra, gel implants?

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Can you tell me more about Mentor Siltex, round, moderate plus profile, xtra, gel implants?

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