Can I get cohesive silicone breast implants in the United States?
Cohesive silicone is a type of silicone gel that is more like a soft solid than a liquid. Cohesive implants are sometimes called “gummy bear” implants because the gel is more like the consistency of a gummy bear candy. Both Allergan and Mentor have what they call cohesive implants that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The idea behind cohesive implants is that having a thicker filling, so to speak, will help keep the silicone gel in place in the event of rupture. However, there is no guarantee that microscopic amounts of gel might not migrate out of the shell in the event of rupture. Other, even firmer models of cohesive gel breast implants are being studied. These contain an even thicker type of silicone filler.
