Dr. Robert S. Hamas, retired plastic surgeon, medical device inventor, CEO, and President of IDEAL IMPLANT presented new advancements in breast implant technology to two investor forums this past year. Investors at the Canaccord Genuity Medical Technologies & Diagnostics Forum and the Aesthetic Technology Summit were given insight into this new technology that is disrupting the implant market. IDEAL IMPLANT provides an alternative to saline and silicone gel breast implants, giving women an option that is natural looking without the risk of silent rupture.
The History of Breast Implant Choices
The goal most women have when undergoing a breast augmentation is a larger bust with a natural look and feel. Since 2006, silicone gel implants have led the breast implant industry because silicone gel is dense and provides stability that saline implants lack. However, the thick, sticky silicone gel stays within the tissues, so if the implant ruptures it is a “silent rupture.” According to FDA recommendations women with silicone gel implants must receive periodic MRI scans to check for silent ruptures. If ruptured these implants should be removed along with any leaked silicone gel, a surgery that can be complicated if the silicone gel has leaked to other parts of the body.
In contrast, saline-filled implants do not require additional monitoring because rupture detection is immediate. When a saline breast implant ruptures, the saline inside flows out and is naturally absorbed by the body. No MRI is required, and removal is simply a matter of taking out the shell. One noted drawback is that saline, or saltwater, does not provide the same stability as silicone gel and tends to show visible ripples or wrinkles under the skin. Since silicone gel breast implants were introduced back onto the market, women have had to choose between the natural look and feel of silicone gel and the peace of mind of saline.
The Newest Breast Implant Choice
Dr. Hamas, a retired board-certified plastic surgeon, developed the IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant because he knew women needed another option for their breast augmentations. Dr. Hamas explains, “the IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant contains a novel internal structure that gives it the natural feel and look of silicone gel implants, but with only saline inside for a woman’s peace of mind.” Inside the IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant there are two chambers with baffled layers to control the flow of saline. This control is what gives the implant stability, mimicking natural breast tissue similar to the effect of silicone gel. “A key differentiator” according to Dr. Hamas, “is that with the IDEAL IMPLANT, a woman can look in the mirror and know her implants are intact, while with silicone gel implants, rupture can occur without her knowledge (silent rupture), and require an MRI or ultrasound scan for detection.”
The Shifting Market for Breast Implants
At the recent investor forums described above Dr. Hamas explained to investors how the IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant is changing the market in unexpected ways. “IDEAL IMPLANT is a disruptive technology with strong clinical data that shows clear advantages over the silicone gel implants that have dominated the industry since they were allowed back in the US market in 2006,” says Dr. Hamas. The clinical data Dr. Hamas is referring to comes from the IDEAL IMPLANT FDA Core Clinical Trial. This data reveals a strong safety profile, especially when compared to silicone gel implants. At eight years after a primary breast augmentation, IDEAL IMPLANT has a rupture rate of 2.1%, while silicone gel breast implants range from 7.2% to 13.6%. Risk of capsular contracture, another common breast implant complication, is also low, 6.6% at eight years after a primary breast augmentation. For comparison, Allergan Gel implants have a capsular contracture risk of 16.2% at seven years, and Sientra Gel implants have a risk of 11.2% at eight years.
Recent market surveys show that women are shifting their preferences when it comes to breast implants. Women are educating themselves on the benefits and compromises of each breast implant option, and pushing their surgeons to adopt the latest technology if they do not already offer it. The natural look and feel of the IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant, in conjunction with its excellent safety profile, make it a top choice for women. As Dr. Hamas explains, “while the IDEAL IMPLANT was launched as a luxury consumer product with premium pricing, the strong safety profile and a quickly growing, vocal pool of happy patients are driving strong patient interest across the board.”
Recent research has also revealed high patient and surgeon satisfaction with the IDEAL IMPLANT. Data gathered from patients 6 years after their primary breast augmentations showed a patient satisfaction rate of 89.7%, and a surgeon satisfaction rate of 92.6%.
Data-driven women across the US and Canada are now visiting their plastic surgeons asking specifically for the IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant. “We have invested significantly to meet the growing pace of demand,” says Dr. Hamas, “and the IDEAL IMPLANT brand is increasingly well recognized. The current landscape presents a timely opportunity for market entry at a critical tipping point in consumer preferences.”
What Plastic Surgeons Say About IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants
While Dr. Hamas focused primarily on clinical data and consumer responses in his address to investors, the response of plastic surgeons should not be taken lightly. After researching and using the IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant, surgeons like Dr. Larry Nichter in Newport Beach recommend it regularly. “It’s incredibly safe,” says Dr. Nichter, “and so there’s far fewer lifetime surgeries with an IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant, compared to traditional silicone-gel implants.”
Surgeons who offer IDEAL IMPLANT as an option have seen it grow steadily in popularity, even replacing other implant options. Dr. Mathew Plant of Toronto explains, “The use of the IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant has significantly increased, because women really do like that sort of peace of mind that comes with a saline implant, knowing it’s a natural substance filling the implant. But they really do prefer the feel of the silicone-gel type implant, and now that the IDEAL IMPLANT is on the market they really can get the best of both worlds.”
Growing Demand Expected to Continue
What is next for IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants? With the support of board-certified plastic surgeons and their patients IDEAL IMPLANT has grown steadily since its commercial launch. IDEAL IMPLANT has focused its marketing strategy on reaching women, providing the latest clinical research data so women can make informed decisions. Ultimately it is women who decide what medical device goes into their bodies. As informed consumers these women are shifting the market toward the implant that provides both beauty and peace of mind. Demand for IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants is expected to continue. Ideal Implant Incorporated, which is based in Dallas, TX, has plans to expand their manufacturing in order to meet the increased demand.
To learn more about how IDEAL IMPLANT compares with other breast implants, visit our compare page. Find a surgeon near you who offers the IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant by visiting our surgeon finder. If your plastic surgeon does not yet offer the IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant, use this form to refer them.