| Today's silicone gel filled breast implant has come a | | | | placed in women today only in clinical research trials. |
| long way from the device that was used by Dr. | | | | There are some compromises associated with this |
| Cronin in Houston, Texas in 1962. Problems associated | | | | type of breast implant, though. Because they do not |
| with this and other earlier breast implants have lead | | | | change shape, they need to be 'breast shaped', and |
| to the advances that have taken today's silicone gel | | | | therefore have a risk of rotation in the pocket, which |
| filled breast implant to the level of safety comparable | | | | would cause a change in the shape of the breast. To |
| to the saline implant, while also raising the standard | | | | counteract this process, all breast implants that are |
| on quality and durability. | | | | shaped need to have their outer shell texturized, so |
| Back in those early pioneering days, Dr. Cronin utilized | | | | that the body will 'grip' the implant into position. |
| a sponge containing silicone oils that were thick liquids | | | | Textured implants have thicker shells, and potential |
| which escaped into the surrounding tissue when | | | | irregularities are more easily felt when touching the |
| implanted under the breast, causing inflammation. | | | | breast. To be noted, implant manufacturers have |
| Eventually, most women developed a thick, | | | | touted breast shaped implants ('contoured', 'anatomic', |
| contractile (shrinking) scar tissue, which deformed the | | | | or 'tear-dropped') as an improvement over the round |
| implant making it feel firm (hardening of the implant). | | | | implant. In reality, a vast majority of plastic surgeons |
| This process is known as capsular contracture, and | | | | prefer round and smooth implants. Another potential |
| can occur with both saline and silicone gel implants. It | | | | problem with gummy bear implants is there fragility, |
| was this problem alone that drove doctors, scientists, | | | | which requires them to be placed through large |
| and engineers to create today's implant. | | | | inframammary incisions (under the breast in the |
| Improvements were made to not only the silicone, | | | | crease). Although gummy bear implants have these |
| but also to the creation and improvement of the | | | | potential compromises, they have virtually no risk of |
| containing part of the device, the shell. | | | | leaking, offering comfort to many individuals. |
| Today's silicone gel filled breast implant contains a | | | | Like saline filled implants, today's silicone gel filled |
| semi-solid gel that has no loose oils that could | | | | implants come in a variety of profiles. The profile |
| potentially penetrate the outer shell. This new | | | | represents how flat or how tall the implant sits when |
| substance is called 'cohesive' by the Allergan company | | | | lying flat on a table top. This in turn reflects how |
| and 'memory gel' by the Mentor company. Both are | | | | projecting the implant will be away from your chest |
| thick gels that are not liquid, and do not run. They | | | | wall and how full the tops of your breast will be after |
| are not thick enough to hold a shape, so they are | | | | augmentation. In general, a moderate profile implant |
| very soft and need to be contained in an outer shell. | | | | gives the best, most natural result. However, in |
| The soft nature of this cohesive gel allows | | | | situations where a larger volume implant is needed to |
| manufacturers to utilize a round and smooth shell, to | | | | obtain the augmentation desired in a more confined |
| obtain the most natural, smoothest, and softest | | | | chest or narrow breast, then a high profile implant |
| result. | | | | may be best suited. |
| Both companies also make a gel that is thick enough | | | | To obtain the best results possible from your |
| to be 'form stable' and can keep its shape without an | | | | surgery; you need to choose a board certified plastic |
| outer shell. This thick gel has been utilized in implants | | | | surgeon that has extensive experience and a great |
| known as gummy bears. These devices are being | | | | reputation in breast augmentation. |