Breast Implant Generations

When the generation scheme (Table I) was first proposed, there were essentially three generations of breast implants corresponding to products developed in the 1960s (first generation), 1970s (second generation), 1980s (third generation).

Table I: Generations of Silicone Gel Filled Breast Implants

First-generation devices are represented by the original silicone gel implant developed by Cronin and Gerow. This device, the Silastic 0, was manufactured by Dow Corning from approximately 1964 to 1968 (5). The Silastic 0 possessed a thick elastomer shell with seams and a viscous silicone gel. Dow Corning made several modifications to the original device, including changes in the elastomer, creating a seamless shell, and later making the shell much thinner. First-generation devices overall were characterized by thick shells, a thick viscous gel, and Dacron patches, and were produced until the late 1970s. The most commonly reported complication of these devices was capsular contracture.

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