The First Silicone Breast Implant
In the history of breast implants, designers have always attempted to mimic the qualities of natural breast tissue, particularly regarding the feeling of it. Spongey materials, such as polyether foam, were used. Although they provided that natural pliability associated with breast tissue, they proved unsuccessful when capsular contraction followed by deflation occurred far too frequently within a year of surgery. Then silicone breast implants came along.
The first silicone breast implant was designed by two American plastic surgeons, Dr. Cronin and Dr. Gerow, and the Dow Corning Corporation in 1961. The inspiration? A plastic blood transfusion bag that Dr. Cronin examined on a trip to a blood bank. The bag’s flexibility and pliability, when full of blood, was similar to a natural breast.
With this realization, the two doctors redesigned the bag from silicone, creating what would become the implant shell. To fill it, they designed a substance of varying consistencies (also silicone). Unfortunately, despite testing, their new first generation breast implant design still resulted in capsular contraction.
An improvement to the design was made about a decade later. The shell was coated with polyurethane. The cases of capsular contraction developing following surgery became almost nonexistent as a result.
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