Is memory gel the same as the "gummy bear" implant?

Question

I got surgery in July of 2016. This whole time I thought I got the "gummy bear" implant and I recently looked at my implant ID card and it says I got Mentor memory gel smooth round high profile implant. I'm curious to know if it's the same as the gummy bear implant, is it similar or is it nothing like it?

Ronald Downs, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for this wonderful question! You will see an array of different  descriptions when it comes to the silicone gel implants. The 'Gummy Bear' implants are the round silicone gel breast implants whether they are smooth or textured. There is a form stable silicone gel implant that I primarily will use for breast reconstruction purposes as this implant provides very minimal upper pole fullness although this implant tends to be more firm, lacking in the more natural feel of the smooth round silicone gel implant. When it comes to the description attached to a specific type of implant you will find that it can vary depending on the website, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, even the company you are researching. The most important aspect of your research and knowledge is to not be afraid to ask questions. The more you ask the more you know! You may find that where one person refers to the smooth round silicone implant as the 'Gummy Bear' implant another individual may refer to this as simply a gel implant. I do hope you have found this information helpful and I wish you luck!

Tim Sayed, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

It's no wonder you are confused! If you read closely the two answers already provided below mine, you will see that even among surgeons there is incomplete agreement on how to describe silicone gel implants and what constitutes the true "gummy bear" implant. Here is my take:The term "gummy bear" implant first really entered our vernacular with the introduction of textured, shaped silicone implants. These were investigational as part of the FDA's review of silicone implants which was a lengthy, multi-year process. Many surgeons prefer not to use form-stable (shaped), textured implants for routine cosmetic breast augmentation for a couple of reasons:1. They may rotate, changing the shape of the breast2. Textured breast implants have shown a statistically higher rate of ALCL, a rare cancer that can be associated with breast implant surgery (only a fraction of a fraction of 1% of all patients worldwide with breast implants have been diagnosed with this)Some uses of textured shaped implants include patients undergoing breast reconstruction and patients who might benefit from a small lift but refuse one.Cohesive gel is the actual makeup of the silicone gel that is used in all currently available silicone breast implants. Because the viscosity and physical characteristics of it make it not "runny," we often use the term "gummy bear" implant to describe the gel. I compare it to the difference between a jelly donut and a jelly candy or gummy bear: if you cut a hole in a jelly donut, you'd expect the jelly to spill out (at least some of it) whereas if you cut a jelly candy or gummy bear, it would largely keep its shape and the gelatinous material would stick together (be cohesive). MemoryGel is just Mentor's name for their cohesive gel. Smooth round is my favorite type of implant and there is considerable data demonstrating that these implants often adopt a slight teardrop natural shape over time anyway, which, when combined with the above risks of textured shaped implants, makes me very unlikely to switch from smooth round for most patients.

Frederic H. Corbin, MD (license restricted) · Answer

Thank you for the question and there is a lot of confusion in terminology as all the implants today are more cohesive or "gummy". The true gummy bear implants are shaped and textured and you are probably better off with smooth round implantsDr Corbin

Is memory gel the same as the "gummy bear" implant?

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Is memory gel the same as the "gummy bear" implant?

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Everything you need to know about Mentor Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.