For the last 50 years there have been only two types of breast implant devices available in the United States. Those two implants are silicone gel and saline. There is a new implant available in the U.S. called the cohesive gel implant.
One of the fundamental aspects of being American is our freedom of choice; it doesn't matter if you're buying a candy bar or a vehicle or a new set of sneakers, all of us Americans have an abundance of choice when it comes to consumer spending. That being said, there is one industry that has a limited amount of choices when it comes to choosing a product. That industry is the breast augmentation industry. For the last 50 years there have been only two breast implant options for the American woman undergoing breast augmentation surgery: saline breast implants and silicone gel breast implants.
A breast augmentation procedure has one specific goal in mind: increasing a woman's breast size by surgically inserting breast implant devices into her breast pockets. The implants will accomplish two goals: increase her breast size and increase their overall firmness. The procedure is the most performed cosmetic surgery for women. The difference between getting breast augmentation surgery in the United States versus getting it somewhere else in the world is that women outside the U.S. have three choices for their breast implants. They can choose saline implants, silicone implants, or cohesive gel implants. Their third option - cohesive gel implants - is not yet approved for unrestricted use in the U.S.
After the controversy surrounding the silicone gel breast implant in the early 90s, the FDA now conducts extremely thorough research studies before granting a new medical device unrestricted use within the United States. The cohesive gel implant device is currently being scrutinized by the FDA. It could be another 3 years or 12 years before the FDA gives its final stamp of approval; nobody knows for sure. However, just because the FDA hasn't yet approved the device doesn't mean it's not available for American women. If you want a cohesive gel implant for your breast augmentation surgery, you'll need to apply to become a part of the clinical trial. If accepted, the government will reimburse a portion of your surgical costs. You'll have to agree many years of follow up appointments with your plastic surgeon.
The cohesive gel implant is nicknamed the Gummy Bear breast implant. It earned its nickname because its feel and consistency are very similar to the feel and consistency of a Gummy Bear candy; if you squeeze one of the candies it feels very much like you're squeezing a cohesive gel implant device.
Cohesive gel devices are a solid mass of gel. Unlike silicone and saline devices which are filled with liquid filler, the cohesive device is filled with a solid state silicone that is anatomically shaped in the form of a real breast. The primary benefit to a solid mass of gel is that it can't leak in the event the exterior shell of the implant should rupture. The primary drawback is that the anatomically shaped implant maintains its upright breast appearance regardless of the pull of gravity.
The term 'cohesive gel' is vastly different than 'silicone gel'. The term cohesive refers to the thickness of the silicone gel. While traditional silicone gel is definitely cohesive, the term as it relates to the new cohesive gel implants refers to the solid state form of the Gummy Bear implant's filler; traditional silicone gel implants can be squeezed and their filler displaced while a cohesive gel implant cannot.
The cohesive gel implant has another well known benefit: it appears the devices are impervious to capsular contracture. While the FDA doesn't hold an official standing on whether or not the device is more or less prone to capsular contracture, data collected elsewhere in the world does suggest the devices are highly resistant to the condition.
When it comes to scarring, the cohesive device is the most prone for producing larger than normal surgical scars. Since the device is a solid mass of gel it cannot be manipulated through a tiny incision in the same manner saline or traditional silicone devices can. Thus, it requires larger incisions than either saline or traditional silicone implants.
To learn more about the new cohesive gel implant device you'll need to speak directly with an implant surgeon that is participating in the FDA's clinical research on the implant device. Only a practicing plastic surgeon that is participating in their research trial can provide you with the latest information relating to the implant.
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The Pros And Cons Associated With Each Type Of Breast Implant Device
Before you decide which type of implant you'll have for your breast augmentation surgery, it's important that you know all the facts associated with each device. Each implant device has its known pros and cons; do you know enough about each of the currently approved implant devices to make an informed, educated decision about the type of implant you'll get for your surgery?
Tips For Selecting A Breast Augmentation Surgeon
Breast augmentation surgery is the most popular form of cosmetic surgery performed for women around the globe. The upwards trend of the number of procedures performed each year indicates that many women feel that having larger, firmer breasts will elevate their quality of life.
