Breast Implant History

Breast augmentation is a cosmetic procedure to increase the size of female breasts with silicone implants.
The origin of breast implants dates back to more than a century, all through which safety and aesthetics have vied for equal importance.

EARLY DAYS:

The earliest known attempt to augment breasts was in 1895, when Wincenz Czerny used the woman’s own adipose tissue to increase the size of her breasts.

Breast implants’ history dates back to a time when breasts were augmented by injecting paraffin into the breasts. This concept however was disastrous, thus leading to the use of glass and ivory balls. Breast implants were synonymous to infections during its early days.

The usage of SILICONE as breast augmentation began during the Second World War when Japanese prostitutes injected silicone to their breasts to impress American servicemen. This revolutionized breast augmentation until injectable silicone was banned from the United States owing to the number of health problems it caused. Silicone, however still remains to be the most preferred material as it is appealing aesthetically.

MODERN BREAST IMPLANT HISTORY:

IN 1945 and 1950, Berson and Maniliac respectively, performed flap-based surgery, where the patient’s chest wall tissue was rotated to add volume to the breasts. In the 50s and 60s, a whopping 50,000 women used various synthetics to increase the size and hardness of their breasts.

1962 was a significant year in the history of breast implants. For the first time, a silicone sachet filled with silicone gel was used in breast augmentation. This procedure is the most commonly used even today. They grew in popularity as silicone gel-filled sachets give the most natural look and feel. Such implants are also less risky.

Today, patients have two main options for breast augmentation- saline implant and silicone implant. The former requires less incision to be inserted as it is filled in after insertion while the latter gives a more natural feel and appearance.

With immense advancement in technology, breast implants have become much less challenging, though not completely devoid of accidents and mistakes. The implants are prone to breakage and this can be corrected through a repair surgery. Most breast implants have to be corrected and recorrected every ten years, at the least.

Breast implants have certainly come of age. Apart from just increasing the size of the breasts, it also helps in restoring self-confidence to thousands of women. It is also an excellent means to reconstruct breasts lost to cancer treatment.

Breast implants have come a long way from the primitive glass and ivory ball implants to the subtle saline and silicone implants.

- Vishwadha Chander

Tags: breast implant history, breast implants, implants

Related Posts:

Related Posts

• Breast Augmentation Myths