Breast Augmentation Has Grown Over The Years

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery in the world, both in terms of its popularity and its appeal.

Fake breasts have become more and more accepted as they likewise become more common in today's society. As plastic surgery itself continues to grow in popularity and accessibility, implants are at the forefront as one of the most visible, popular and at times controversial forms.

Breast augmentation today is typically as successful as it ever has been in providing patients with the results they sought when they chose to have the procedure done. This is largely due to advancements in technology that have made artificial breasts as safe, real looking and easy to implant as ever before.

It wasn't always that way, however. For many years, implants were considered taboo to some people and unsafe to many. This was largely due to the relative rarity of the procedure compared to today's standards and the lack of knowledge about how to effectively manufacture and implant each unit for maximum safety and aesthetics. Over time, this has changed.

The silicone implant was originally invented and manufactured in 1961 by cosmetic surgeons Thomas Cronin and Frank Gerow. The original version, which was used in the 1960s, was a rubber pouch filled with a silicone gel and shaped to be anatomically correct in both shape and feel.

The 1970s saw the advent of a so-called improved version of the original prototype that was manufactured to be even more realistic. It featured a thinner shell and less cohesive gel inside to make it softer, but because of this it was prone to rupturing. Class action lawsuits against the manufacturer of this version became prominent shortly thereafter.

The so-called third and fourth generation of breast augmentation was produced in the 1980s and featured units with more cohesive silicone and an elastic shell, both of which made them more flexible and durable and less prone to breakage. Two different models of the implant were also made, with one designed to appear more natural and another to be more symmetrical.

The most recent implants began being produced in the mid 1990s and were filled with a silicone gel that is semi-solid, which is designed to reduce leakage. This model maintains the physical characteristics of its predecessor that allows it to appear realistic and to be more customizable for the patient's individual needs, but is safer and more durable than any of the previous models.

Because of these advancements in technology that have helped make implants more real and natural looking, breast augmentation will likely continue to grow in popularity in the coming years. Future advancements in this technology are also likely and may make it even more successful and safe than ever before.