The most common complaint among women with breast implants is that they will eventually need to have their implants replaced. Whether they are silicone gel implants or saline implants, it doesn't matter – they have a ten year life span, give or take a few years. After ten years, the probability for implant rupture increases substantially every year. While a ruptured saline implant poses very little threat to your overall health, a ruptured silicone gel implant is a very different story. There is a new implant available in the United States that poses very little threat in regards to implant rupture. It's called the Cohesive Gel Implant.

The cohesive gel implant has the nickname of the Gummy Bear Implant. Perhaps you've heard of it? The reason why it has this nickname is because it is very much like the popular Gummy Bear candy – they both have the same texture and feel in the hand, and they are both a solid mass (not a liquid).

As mentioned above, silicone gel and saline implants have a ten year life span. Every year after that, it becomes increasingly probable that an implant will rupture. The new cohesive gel implant is believed to last much longer than either of its predecessors. Some people believe these new implants will easily last fifteen years or longer. How long they last before rupturing is yet to be determined, and the FDA will come to its own conclusion once their clinical trials are complete.

One thing that silicone gel implants and saline implants have in common is that they are both a liquid filler inside of a silicone shell. The liquid can be displaced inside the implant. Much like a water balloon, you can squeeze them and squish the liquid filler around. The new cohesive gel implant is not a liquid, and its filler cannot be displaced. The Gummy Bear implant is a solid mass of gel – you can't squeeze it and squish the fluid around inside of it. Because it is a solid gel, it maintains its shape regardless of gravity. Some believe it will also maintain its shape regardless of age. The new implant is only available in anatomical shape (shaped like a real breast). Regardless of how a woman's body is positioned, the implant will always maintain its breast-like slope. Is this a benefit? Or would you rather have your implants react to gravity similar to a real breast? That's for you to decide.

Despite the fact that the FDA has not yet approved this implant, they have been in use around the world for almost twenty years. There is significant data to indicate that this new implant might very well be the best implant ever made. It potentially could claim the "safest implant" title from saline implants. It might also be the longest-lasting implant currently in production.

American women can have cohesive implants for their breast augmentation surgery if they agree to join the FDA's clinical trial. Although it's difficult to get accepted, it's not impossible. You'll need to contact a breast augmentation specialist that has joined the clinical trial and schedule an initial consultation. The drawback to becoming part of the trial is that you must agree to at least ten years of follow-up visits with your surgeon. The benefit to becoming part of the trial is that you'll be reimbursed for most of your augmentation costs.

Only a licensed physician should provide medical advice and recommendations regarding your health-related decisions.