Sure, you may know all about who in Hollywood has fake boobs, but do you know where the whole enhanced-breast trend started? Here’s a quick history of implants, which date back to the 19th century—way before “Baywatch†was on TV.
1. The fake-boob trend started in 1890, when Austrian doctor Robert Gersuny started injecting paraffin into women’s chests. The fake breasts looked fine for a while but eventually grew hard and lumpy, which wasn’t desirable. Plus, infection rates were ridiculously high, so the procedure had been abandoned by the 1920s.
2. During World War II, Japanese prostitutes reportedly injected themselves with silicone to attract American GIs, which quickly made silicone a hot commodity. Topless dancers in the US soon followed suit.
3. In the 1950s, surgeons implanted everything from ivory balls and wool to ox cartilage—eek!—but none of it really worked.
4. In 1961, the first silicone breast prosthetic was created, and the rubber sac filled with viscous silicone gel remained virtually unchanged for 30 years, until…
5. The FDA announced in 1992 that silicone breast implants could break down into the body and form a carcinogen. U.S. surgeons turned to safer, though less natural feeling, saline implants. And men everywhere had to decide whether they prefer small, natural boobs or large, hard ones. Decisions, decisions!
6. In 2006, after a 14 year ban, the FDA approved silicone gel implants. Now that the gel product (not to be confused with the original silicone) has been determined to be safe and effective, the FDA will continue to monitor them by requiring each breast implant manufacturer (Mentor and Inamed) to conduct a large post-approval study which will follow about 40,000 women for 10 years after receiving breast implants.
7 COMMENTS
Leave A CommentIs anyone else squirming in their seat with their upper lip curled back while reading this, like I am? Paraffin? Wool?? Ivory??? Ouch!
And I seem to recall that there *was* Baywatch back in 1890… just less cleavage (as in none) and the Hoff was young looking. Ah, but those frilly collars and cuffs on the uniforms worn by the women lifeguards did set my youthful heart aflutter….
VERY INTERESTING…. owwwwie, I bet the wool was not very comfortable!
Oh…..My…..Gawd!
Hey, can I get a shot of that ox cartilage?? Nothing like wearing my steak on my chest!
Maybe silicone gel implants will make people squirm 100 years from now!
Yikes!!!!!! that sounds awful!!……interesting stuff though!!….thank god i live in the present time!!
Wow. This was a cool read. No mention of the gummy bear implants. I think the ivory would be hard and heavy. Poor elephants!
just wanted to say that my saline’s are NOT hard!! they are soft and awesome