Yes. The FDA screens and reviews products and medical procedures before allowing them to be put on the market.

As was mentioned, breast implants in general have been in the market since the mid-2000s. And gummy bear implants use a type of silicone implants that are stronger than ordinary silicone or saline implants.

Of course, that’s not to say that breast implants are completely safe. Breast implants also come with their own risks—but that’s true of any medical procedure or treatment.

There are two common type of implants used in breast surgery. They are saline implants and silicone implants.

Saline implants have a silicone shell filled with a saline or saltwater solution. They’re incredibly soft to the touch. However, they’re the least durable among the options and are more prone to rupturing or leaking. They also cause a “rippling” effect to the skin of the breasts because of how the liquid saline moves.

Silicone implants have a silicone shell and silicone gel filling. Silicone implants address the durability issues of saline implants, and are generally stronger and less prone to bursting. But because of this, traditional silicone implants leave breasts with an unnatural feeling of hardness or stiffness.

Gummy bear implants are also made of silicone. They’re a step-up from traditional silicone implants. Even though they also have a silicone shell and silicone gel filling, the silicone used is more fluid yet still durable. As a result, gummy bear implants have a natural softness that traditional silicone implants don’t.

Gummy bear implants also hold their shape, even if they’ve started to leak. This means breasts with these implants won’t have any unflattering lumps prior to correction or reimplantation.

No. Different surgeons have different criteria for suitable breast augmentation candidates, but in general, they look for candidates who are:

• In reasonably good physical and mental health
• Not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
• Not ill or currently fighting a disease or infection
• Cleared for breast cancer with a normal mammogram

Some surgeons exclude candidates who are currently smoking (they might ask you to stop for at least a month before the surgery). Some might also ask for psychological counseling first, in case the candidate has mental problems that makes them have a negative self-image.

Gummy bear implants are considered safe, but they still carry quite a few complications and risks. These include:

• Scarring at the incision site
• Bleeding
• Pain
• Infection
• Rupturing or leaking of the implants
• Rupturing or leaking of the implants
• Wrinkling of the breasts

Some patients have also experienced severe nausea and vomiting from the anesthesia. Others might also experience back pain, possibly due to the new weight added to the breasts.

The FDA also found a link between implants and breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare type of cancer.

Because of possible nipple sensation changes, some women who have undergone breast augmentation found difficulties during breastfeeding.

All breast implants carry a risk of rotating. This won’t be a problem with circular implants such as saline or traditional silicone, but rotation will be more noticeable with the teardrop-shaped gummy bear implants.

Surgical breast augmentation procedures in general are pricey. As an estimate, breast augmentation prices in 2019 ranged anywhere from $6,000 to $12,000.

Why the wide range in price? It depends on the surgeon, the complexity of the procedure, and even the state where you’ll be having the surgery.

You can definitely find a surgeon and a clinic that offers breast implants at a lower price than $6,000. In fact, the average cost of breast implants in 2019 is around $3,947.

Because of the high price point, many surgeons and clinics offer payment plans for their procedures. This makes it a little bit easier since you won’t have to shell out thousands of dollars all in one go.

Seeing the pros and cons laid out will help you gauge whether something is worth it. Here are the pros of gummy bear implants:

• More durable than normal silicone or saline implants
• Has a unique “teardrop” shape when implanted, giving a natural-looking droop and fullness on the bottom of the breasts
• Holds their shape well over time
• Leaves breasts soft to touch, almost natural in feel
• Is less prone to leakage and rupture

And here are the cons:

• Leaks, if they do happen, are harder to detect because gummy bear implants hold their shape so well
• Gummy bear implants are more noticeable when they rotate because of the teardrop shape
• Doesn’t last forever; implants generally have to be replaced after an average of 10 years
• You must have regular MRI screenings to see if the implants are still intact
• Doesn’t correct sagging breasts
• Steep price point
• Carries quite a number of risks and complications, even cancer

Because of the impressive results, breast implants are the coveted option for breast augmentation. Still, breast implants aren’t for everyone. Before getting implants, ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you also want to fix sagging breasts?
   
   Breast implants do not fix sagging breasts. In fact, the added weight of the implants might make them sag a bit more. If your primary concern is sagging breasts, look for other options that’ll address this issue.
   
   
2. Do you want fullness to the upper part of the breasts?
   
   The teardrop shape of gummy bear implants makes them desirable if you want fullness to the bottom of the breasts, but if you want fullness on the upper part, you might need to look for other options.
   
   
3. Are you looking for a one-time answer to breast augmentation?
   
   Then breast implants isn’t for you. While they last for a long time—gummy bear implants more so—they don’t last for a lifetime. They will need to be replaced and you’ll have to undergo a reimplant at some point. If you’re not willing to stick to that kind of maintenance, it’ll be better to forego getting implants.
   
   
4. Are you willing to accept some lifestyle changes?
   
   Some surgeons ask smokers to stop at least a month before undergoing surgery. This might not be easy for some.
   
   Maintaining a normal weight is also advised, as sudden weight gain or loss could alter the look of your breasts even post-surgery.
   
   If you think you can’t handle that kind of commitment, try to look for other alternatives.
   
   
5. Is your surgeon a reputable one?
   
   Because of the high price point, there are a few surgeons and clinics that offer breast augmentation at a significantly lower cost. We highly caution you against going for a procedure with this kind of practice.
   
   You can find accounts of horror stories about women opting to go for the wrong surgeon or clinic. Often these are surgeons offering breast augmentation at a cheaper price, which might look appealing at first, but might come at a higher, more valuable cost later.
   
   Before committing to the surgery, make sure your surgeon is an accredited plastic surgeon within your state and country. Same goes for the clinic where the surgeon operates in. Try to look into their other patients and try to ask if they could share their breast augmentation experience with the surgeon before, during, and after the procedure.
   
   
6. Are you okay with being out of commission for at least a couple of weeks?
   
   Breast augmentation is major surgery. You’ll be lying on an operation table with the surgeon having to slice into your skin, fat, and muscle tissue. The post-op care won’t let you do any heavy lifting or activity for at least two weeks afterwards, such as working out or raising your arms. Doing so could risk the stitches and the wound opening up. If this simply isn’t an option for you, try to look for an alternative.