Give Steven Teitelbaum MD a phone call at (310) 315-1121

Gummy Bear Implants: Dr. Teitelbaum's Expertise

"Highly cohesive", "form stable", and "gummy bear" are terms used to describe a variety of exciting new breast implants. Actually, these implants have been available worldwide since 1992. The US clinical trials for these implants began in 2001, and in February 2013, they received FDA approval. So while they are new and exciting to us, they are already old news to patients and surgeons in Europe, South America, and much of Asia.

Dr. Teitelbaum has one of the longest and broadest clinical experiences with these implants among plastic surgeons in the United States.

He completed more breast augmentations with the Natrelle Style 410 breast implant in 2012 than any other surgeon in the United States. He developed training materials for the manufacturers of these breast implants to teach other surgeons how to use these implants. And he has taught hundreds of other surgeons how to use these implants at instructional courses on five continents.

Before & After Breast Augmentation

Adult content

I am 18+ years old

Hub patient media

Adult content

I am 18+ years old

Hub patient media

Adult content

I am 18+ years old

Hub patient media

Adult content

I am 18+ years old

Hub patient media

Adult content

I am 18+ years old

Hub patient media

Adult content

I am 18+ years old

Hub patient media
View Gallery
Banner media

Conducting Breast Implant Research

Dr. Teitelbaum has followed patients with gummy bear implants for over ten years, through pregnancies, weight gain and losses, and the effects of time. This invaluable experience gives him substantial insights into how to get the most out of these implants to meet his patients' desires. Each of the three manufacturers that have these implants in the United States had to conduct a trial for the FDA. Dr. Teitelbaum is the only surgeon in all of California to have used all three types of these implants. His experience in sizing and selecting these implants led him to develop a device that helps a surgeon select the ideal size and shape of a cohesive implant, for which he was awarded a US patent.

Much of Dr. Teitelbaum's life over the past decade has been devoted to these implants. His opinions on these have been sought after by implant manufacturers and surgeons. But most important of all is the gorgeous results he can achieve for his patients with these implants.

In the photo galleries on these pages, you will see photographs that demonstrate Dr. Teitelbaum's tremendous ability to shape gorgeous breasts in a wide variety of body types with gummy bear implants.

Meet Dr. Teitelbaum

Great breast augmentation results come from the surgeon, not the breast implant

While cohesive implants are excellent and offer certain advantages, a great breast augmentation is about the surgeon, not the implant. No breast implant guarantees a great shape, freedom from rippling, avoidance of hardening, or protection against any other problems that may occur. Gorgeous breasts are created through outstanding surgery.

While understanding that the inherent advantages of these implants may help you achieve a better result, do not allow just the enthusiasm around them alone to sway you. Satisfied patients with cohesive gel implants have learned the advantages and disadvantages of these implants and decided that they are right for them.

Doctor media

Advantages of Cohesive Gel Breast Implants

  • There appears to be a greater ability to control shape, particularly with breasts that have little shape to themselves.
  • There is less of a tendency to ripple (though rippling has more to do with a patient’s tissues).
  • Cohesive implants are slightly firmer than standard silicone-gel breast implants. The only patients who seem to notice this are patients with looser and relatively pendulous breasts.
  • These implants are thin at the top and thicker at the bottom, mimicking an ideal breast.
  • The implants are not sewn into place; instead, they rely on the pressure of the surrounding tissue.

Disadvantages and Risks of Cohesive Gel Breast Implants

  • If the implant were to rotate, then it could create a distortion. This rotation is a risk not present with round implants and understandably concerns some patients.
  • Gummy bear implants must be properly sized. Standard gel implants can mold themselves to fit a breast, thereby offering more sizing options.
  • If highly cohesive breast implants are too big, the breast looks very stuffed and stiff.
  • If the implants are too small, the breast does not look properly filled.

Women looking for beautiful breasts should always insist upon breast implants that are the best fit for their breast envelope, and this holds particularly true for gummy bear breast implants. The advantages of implants such as the Natrelle Style 410 and the Mentor CPG are numerous. At your consultation, Dr. Teitelbaum can give you his opinion as to their suitability for you.

"Gummy bear" breast implants have an interesting history

In the 1980s, a popular teardrop-shaped implant called Surgitek was popular. It had a nice teardrop shape, thin on the top, and thick at the bottom. It was covered with a thick polyurethane layer outside of the silicone shell, and when you held it in your hand, it felt like it would maintain its shape. When initially implanted, the results were gorgeous. But soon it lost that great shape.

The problem was that the polyurethane foam on the implant's exterior dissolved, and the implant shell underneath was not stiff enough to control the shape of the gel within it. Gravity then pulled the relatively thin gel down to the bottom of the shell, shortening its height, overfilling the bottom, which led to folds and ultimately breakage along those folds with leakage of a relatively liquid gel into the breast.

The goal was to create a gel breast implant that could maintain that shape over time and resist breakage. It was clear that the shell alone could not do it: the gel itself would have to hold its own shape. The answer was "cohesive gel." In the years since then, manufacturers have claimed that "all implants are cohesive." While true in part, it caused confusion, so we now use the term "highly cohesive" to refer to that type of gel.

Cohesive gel differs from standard silicone by being more "cross-linked."

The crosslinking of silicone molecules makes it slightly thicker and firmer, enabling it to maintain its shape. The term "form stable" refers to the tendency of these implants to have a constant shape. But if an implant were truly form-stable, it would feel unacceptably firm. So, though this term is often used, no implant is truly form-stable. Dr. Teitelbaum prefers describing them as "relatively form stable" compared to implants with less cohesive fill, whose shape can be easily deformed.

Once a gel was developed that could hold a shape, it became possible to make a great number of shapes in a particular volume. One manufacturer even has twelve shapes for each given volume. This gives the surgeon unprecedented control of breast shape, allowing greater possibilities in creating a shape that is most attractive for a woman or to correct preexisting deformities of a woman's own breast shape.

A key concept that Dr. Teitelbaum teaches other plastic surgeons is that "A regular breast implant is shaped by the breast; a highly cohesive implant shapes the breast."

Banner media

Gummy Bear Implants FAQs

How do I know if gummy bear implants are the right choice for me?

A consultation is the best way to find out. Dr. Teitelbaum evaluates breast shape, tissue quality, and aesthetic goals before recommending an implant type, and patients with little natural breast shape or a desire for more control over the final contour are often good candidates.

What is recovery like after gummy bear implant surgery?

Recovery generally follows the same path as standard breast augmentation. Dr. Teitelbaum provides post-operative instructions tailored to the specifics of each patient's procedure.

Where will the incisions be placed?

Incision location depends on implant size, breast anatomy, and patient preference. Because gummy bear implants cannot be folded the way softer implants can, the incision is typically a bit longer, something Dr. Teitelbaum factors into surgical planning.

What are the general surgical risks of breast augmentation with gummy bear implants?

Beyond implant-specific considerations, patients face the same general surgical risks as any breast augmentation, including infection, bleeding, and reaction to anesthesia. These are reviewed individually before surgery.

Can gummy bear implants be used to replace my current breast implants?

Often, yes, though candidacy depends on the condition of the surrounding tissue from the original surgery. Dr. Teitelbaum evaluates this during a revision consultation.

How much do gummy bear implant procedures cost?

Pricing depends on implant manufacturer, size, and whether the procedure includes a lift or other additional work. A precise quote follows an in-person evaluation with Dr. Teitelbaum.

Will insurance cover any part of this procedure?

Cosmetic breast augmentation, including with gummy bear implants, is considered elective and typically is not covered by insurance. Financing options can be discussed directly with the office.

How long is the surgery itself?

Surgery time varies based on technique and whether other procedures are performed at the same time. Dr. Teitelbaum can give a specific estimate once a surgical plan is developed at the consultation.

Can I combine gummy bear implants with a breast lift?

Yes, for patients with sagging in addition to volume loss. Skin quality and breast position determine whether combining the two procedures makes sense, an evaluation Dr. Teitelbaum performs at the consultation.

Dr. Teitelbaum Our Facility Our Staff
Logo media

Schedule a Consultation

(310) 315-1121 Contact Us
Accessibility: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to using this website, please contact our Accessibility Manager at (310) 315-1121.
Contact Us