Cohesive Gel Breast Implants

Cohesive gel implants are relatively new in the field of plastic surgery. Unlike the past saline and silicone breast implants, the cohesive gels are firmer and have a consistency of a "jelly".

The cohesive gel is more stable and does not break up into small liquid particles. This is because the silicone particles have been cross linked with special chemicals.

Unlike saline implants, the cohesive gel is stable and maintains shape irrespective of the position of the patient.

Cohesive gels implants are available as both smooth and textured. It is important to maintain the implant from moving or migrating and thus textured surfaces are preferred.

Rupture of cohesive gel implants is rare and only a few cases have been reported. European data indicate that following a rupture, the gel remains in place and seals off the perforation.

Unlike the liquid fillers, cohesive gels remain in place and do not migrate into the tissues.

If there is a perforation after with a cohesive gel implant, it is difficult to make a diagnosis by visual inspection. Only an MRI can make a diagnosis of the perforation

Women who have had the cohesive gel implant indicate that the breasts feel natural, smooth and soft. The implant can even be squeezed without fear of rupture. After squeezing the implant, it readily returns back to its original shape

Cohesive gels implants require a surgical incision for insertion because they do not fold like other saline implants. The implant is usually placed below the chest wall muscles.

After surgery, there is a moderate degree of pain and the recovery takes a few weeks.

Like other breast implants cohesive gel implant surgery is also prone to:

- bleeding

- infection

- rippling

- capsular contracture

This new-style cohesive gel implant is available only to patients taking part in FDA trials. When the data are released from the current clinical trials, only then will we know more about the status of these breast implants.

Only time will tell if the cohesive gels function like they are supposed to and are safe for human use.

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