What are gummy bear breast implants?

"Gummy bear" is a nickname for highly cohesive, form-stable silicone gel implants. The name comes from the fact that if you were to cut the implant, the gel inside would not leak or run out; it holds its shape, much like a gummy bear candy. This stability allows them to be crafted into an anatomical "teardrop" shape that is fuller at the bottom and tapered at the top, mimicking a natural breast profile.

Pros and Cons of Gummy Bear Implants

Benefits of gummy bear implants include their stable shape, which provides a very predictable and natural-looking result with a lower risk of rippling or wrinkling. They are extremely durable and have the lowest rupture rate of all implant types. Patient satisfaction is exceptionally high, often reported around 96.8%. They have a firmer feel compared to standard silicone gel implants, which some patients may not prefer. The form-stable nature requires a slightly larger incision for placement, and they are the most expensive implant option.

Where are gummy bear implants inserted?

Like other implants, they can be placed through several incision types. The most common is the inframammary incision, made in the crease beneath the breast, which allows for excellent access and hides the scar well. Other options include a periareolar incision around the edge of the areola or a transaxillary incision in the armpit.

Difference between gummy bear and other implants

The key difference is the cohesiveness of the gel. Standard silicone implants contain a softer gel, and saline implants are filled with liquid. The form-stable gel in gummy bear implants prevents them from losing their shape or deflating, even in the rare event of a shell rupture. This makes them feel more solid but also ensures a consistent, lasting contour.

What is recovery and scarring like?

Initial recovery typically involves 1-2 weeks of taking it easy, with most patients returning to non-strenuous work within that time. You'll need to avoid heavy lifting and vigorous exercise for about 6-8 weeks. Scarring depends entirely on the incision location and will fade significantly over a year, becoming a fine line.

How long do gummy bear implants last?

While gummy bear implants are very durable, they are not considered lifetime devices. The FDA recommends monitoring them, and most patients can expect their implants to last 10 to 20 years or even longer before a replacement or revision might be considered.

Top procedures paired with gummy bear implants

To achieve a comprehensive rejuvenation, implants are often combined with other procedures. The most common pairings include:

1. Breast Lift (Mastopexy): To correct sagging and position the implant perfectly.
2. Liposuction: To contour the surrounding areas, like the bra roll or abdomen.
3. Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty): As part of a "mommy makeover" to restore the pre-pregnancy figure.
4. Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL): For total body reshaping.

Top brands of gummy bear implants

In the United States, the leading FDA-approved brands known for their high-quality cohesive gel implants include:

• Allergan Natrelle INSPIRA®: Known for a wide range of projections and cohesiveness options.
• Sientra®: The first company to offer gummy bear implants in the U.S., known for their high-strength cohesive gel.
• Mentor® MemoryShape®: A highly trusted brand with a long history of safety and excellent results.

Dr. Lind's preferred brand of implants is Allergan Natrelle INSPIRA.

What is a lollipop lift?

The Lollipop Lift, technically called a vertical mastopexy, is a breast lift technique designed to correct moderate sagging. It gets its name from the incision pattern: one circular incision around the areola and a second incision that runs straight down from the bottom of the areola to the breast crease. This allows the surgeon to remove a significant amount of excess skin, lift the nipple and areola to a more youthful position, and reshape the breast tissue into a tighter, perkier contour.

Expected results

Patients can expect a dramatically improved breast shape and position. The procedure effectively corrects ptosis (sagging) and can also reduce the size of the areola if desired. The result is a breast that sits higher on the chest and has a rounder, more youthful appearance. Patient satisfaction for this procedure is very high, typically around 91%.

Who is a good candidate for the lollipop breast lift?

A good candidate is a woman in good general health who is bothered by moderately sagging breasts. This is common after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight fluctuations. It is the ideal "middle ground" procedure for those who have too much sagging for a simple donut lift but do not require the extensive skin removal of a full anchor lift.

Expected recovery and scarring

Recovery is manageable. Most patients can return to a desk job and light activities within 7-10 days. Strenuous activity and heavy lifting should be avoided for 4-6 weeks to allow the internal tissues to heal properly. The scars, which are around the areola and vertically down the breast, are permanent but fade remarkably well over time, usually becoming thin, pale lines within a year or two.

What is a fat transfer to the breast (Cali boob job)?

Fat transfer to the breasts, also known as a Cali boob job, is a natural augmentation method. It involves three steps: 1. Gentle liposuction to harvest fat from a donor area (like the stomach or thighs) 2. Purification of the fat to isolate healthy, viable fat cells 3. Strategic injection of that fat into the breasts to increase volume and improve shape. It is essentially moving your own fat from an area where you don't want it to an area where you do.

Expected results from a fat transfer to the breasts

The results are soft, natural, and feel just like your own breast tissue because they are. Patients can typically expect a modest increase in size, usually about half to one full cup size per procedure. It's important to understand that not all of the transferred fat will survive; a survival rate of 50-70% is standard. The final result is visible after about 3-6 months once the initial swelling has subsided and the fat has stabilized.

Who is a good candidate for fat transfer to breasts?

The ideal candidate is someone who desires a subtle, natural enhancement and is strictly opposed to implants. They must have enough excess fat in a donor area to be harvested. It is also an excellent option for correcting minor asymmetries or smoothing out irregularities, sometimes in combination with implants (a "hybrid" augmentation).

Expected recovery and scarring

Recovery is relatively quick compared to implant surgery. You will experience soreness and bruising in both the donor and recipient sites. Most patients are back to work within a week. More strenuous activities can be resumed in 4-6 weeks. Scarring is minimal, consisting of a few tiny marks from the liposuction cannula and injection needles, which are typically unnoticeable once healed.

What is a donut lift?

A Donut Lift, or periareolar mastopexy, is the least invasive type of surgical breast lift. It involves a single incision made around the circumference of the areola. A "donut" of skin is removed from around this border, and the skin is then sutured back together, which has the effect of tightening the skin and providing a mild lift to the nipple-areola complex.

Expected results

Donut lift procedures provide a subtle lift, best for correcting very mild sagging or "droop." It is also effective for reducing the size of the areola. The results are not as dramatic as other lifts, but the trade-off is a scar that is exceptionally well-concealed along the natural border between the areola and the surrounding breast skin.

Who is a good candidate for a donut lift?

The ideal candidate has good skin elasticity and only a small amount of sagging. This is often seen in younger women, women after pregnancy who have "deflated" but not significantly drooped, or patients undergoing augmentation who need a very slight nipple adjustment. It is not suitable for women with moderate to severe ptosis.

Expected recovery and scarring with the donut breast lift

Recovery is quite fast for a surgical procedure. Most patients feel comfortable returning to daily activities within a few days and can resume exercise in about 3-4 weeks. The primary scar is a circle around the areola. While it can sometimes appear bunched or rippled initially, it typically flattens and fades beautifully over several months, becoming very difficult to detect.

What is a breast revision / asymmetry correction?

Breast asymmetry correction is a customized surgical plan to make the breasts appear more similar in size, shape, and position. It is not a single technique but rather a combination of procedures tailored to the individual. This might involve using different-sized implants, performing a lift on one breast but not the other, using fat grafting to add volume to the smaller breast, or performing a reduction on the larger one. The goal is to create a balanced, harmonious, and symmetric appearance.

Expected results

The goal is significant improvement, not perfect mirror-image identity. Patients can expect their breasts to look much more symmetrical and balanced, which can have a profound positive impact on self-esteem and confidence. The success of the procedure is high, with patient satisfaction rates around 90%, as it addresses a very specific and often bothersome concern.

Who is a good candidate for breast revision?

Any woman who is bothered by a noticeable difference between her breasts is a potential candidate. The asymmetry can be in volume (one breast is a full cup size larger), shape (one is round, the other is tapered), or position (one nipple is lower than the other). The best candidates are in good health, have finished breast development, and have realistic expectations about the outcome.

Expected recovery and scarring

Recovery and scarring are entirely dependent on the specific techniques used. If the correction involves only different-sized implants, recovery will be similar to a standard augmentation (4-6 weeks). If a lift or reduction is performed on one or both sides, the recovery will be longer and the scarring more extensive, corresponding to the type of lift performed.

What is an anchor lift?

The Anchor Lift, or Inverted-T Mastopexy, is the most powerful breast lift technique available. It is designed to correct severe breast sagging. It uses three incisions: one around the areola, one running vertically from the areola to the breast crease, and a third hidden horizontally within the breast crease itself. This extensive incision pattern gives the surgeon maximum ability to remove large amounts of excess skin and fundamentally reshape the entire breast mound for a complete transformation.

Expected results

The results are dramatic. This procedure can take a very droopy, elongated breast and transform it into a perky, round, and youthful breast that sits high on the chest. It provides the greatest degree of lift and reshaping possible. Because of the significant improvement, patient satisfaction is extremely high, often around 95%, despite the more extensive scarring.

Who is a good candidate for an anchor breast lift?

This procedure is reserved for women with significant or severe ptosis (sagging). This is often the case after massive weight loss, multiple pregnancies, or simply due to genetics and aging. If the nipple is pointing downwards or sits well below the breast crease, an anchor lift is usually the most appropriate and effective solution.

Anchor lift recovery and scarring

This is the most invasive lift, so recovery is the longest. While you can return to light activities in about 2 weeks, you must avoid all strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for at least 6-8 weeks. The scars are the most extensive of any lift, forming an "anchor" or "inverted T" shape. However, with proper care, these scars fade significantly over 1-2 years and are strategically placed to be concealed by most bras and bikini tops.