Cohesive Gel Implant
Cohesive Gel implant
The newest type of breast implant is the cohesive silicone gel implant, or the "gummy bear" implant, which was approved by the FDA in 2012. Since the silicone in the new cohesive silicone gel implants is significantly more coherent than the silicone in traditional silicone gel implants, it is believed that the cohesive gel will hold together if the outer silicone shell ruptures - much like a gummy bear.
The cohesive gel implant is softer than a saline implant but firmer than the traditional silicone gel implant. Since the silicone gel is semi-solid, the cohesive gel implant tends to hold its shape because it is stiffer than traditional silicone gel. The cohesive gel implant will require the largest incision on the breast, because cohesive gel implants are less flexible than all other implant types and cannot squeeze through a small incision.
