History of Breast Implants and Breast Augmentation

Landmarks in this endeavor - timeline style.

1890 - first surgical breast augmentation procedure was performed with paraffin injection.

• This led to infections
• Lump formations in the breast
• By 1920s paraffin injections became out of favor for breast augmentation

1920 - Fat transplants were tried.  Fatty tissue was surgically removed from the belly and buttock areas and trasferred into the breast

• This was unsuccessful because the body would quickly reabsorb most of the fat, leaving the breast lumpy and lopsided.
• By 1940s, this procedure was given up.

1960's - Silicone injections directly into the breast was tried

• Complications of chornic inflammation, infections, and lumps
• These complications caused this form of breast augmentation to fall out of favor.

1950s - Polyvinyl sponges started to be implanted into the breasts for breast augmentation

• Different types of synthetic sponges were also tried
• They were all found to shrink and harden within a year
• Infections occurred.
• There was a possible link between this type of breast augmentation surgery and cancer

1961 - The first silicone breast implant was developed.

1982 - Silicone breast implants were withdrawn due to safety concerns

1988 - Dow Corning, one of the silicone breast implants largest manufacturer settled a class action lawsuit for 3.2 billion for 170,000 women

1992 - Only saline-filled implants have been allowed in the American general market for cosmetic breast augmentation.  Silicone breast implants had been available only to special pateints through FDA approved trials

1995 - Soybean Oil implants introduced

• Considered to be a natural approach to breast augmentation
• 1999 - these breast implants were withdrawn from the market because a they were found to contain a filler that could become toxic in the body as it breaks down.
• This type of breast augmentation surgery was never approved in the U.S.
• an article on Tara Reid's Breast Implants Threaten Her Life - she had soybean implants
• They could also go rancid.

2001 Brava Breast Enhancement and Shaping System was introduced

• Bra-like device sourrounded with silicone that creates a vacuum over the breasts that induce the breast to possibly grow about one cup size.  Must be worn 10 hours a day for several mouths to create a breast augmentation effect.  The idea here is an augmentation method without implants.  Haven't found any satisfied patients using this method of breast enhancement (yet).

2006 - November, the FDA (USA) approves silicone breast implants again

• collection of articles about the reapproval of silicone implants
• After 14 years, silicone breast implants will once be available to women in the United States
• The new implants are the gummy bear style silicone breast implants
• These implants are available locally at Fleming Island Plastic Surgery