Breast implants have a longer and more eventful history than many people realise. Understanding how they have evolved explains why modern implants are more durable and better studied than their predecessors.
The first silicone implant (1962)
American surgeons Thomas Cronin and Frank Gerow, working with Dow Corning, developed the first silicone gel breast implant, and the first augmentation was performed in 1962. This first-generation device was teardrop-shaped with a thick shell and Dacron fixation patches on the back to hold it in position. Capsular contracture — firm scar tissue around the implant — was common, attributed to the shell and gel of the era.
Second generation (1970s)
Manufacturers introduced thinner shells and softer, less viscous gel to improve feel. These implants felt more natural but suffered higher rates of silicone "bleed" through the shell and rupture.
Refinement and scrutiny (1980s–1990s)
Concerns about rupture and possible health effects led to intense regulatory scrutiny. From the mid-1990s, semi-solid cohesive gels were introduced that largely eliminated gel leakage and migration, and shell construction improved markedly.
The modern era
Today's implants feature multi-layer shells, cohesive and highly cohesive ("form-stable") gels, and a range of surface technologies. National registries and long-term follow-up now track performance and safety in a way that was impossible in earlier decades.