Fig. 1

Historical evolution of silicone breast implants. Important breakthroughs in silicone implants technologies starting with implants with Dacron patches on the posterior side to the latest implants with biocompatible shells and radio frequency identification technologies. First generation silicone breast implants were made from thick smooth silicone elastomer shell filled with Silastic. Second generation implants consisted of thinner and seamless shells, with the fixation patches removed. Third generation implants were introduced from 1982 onwards and consisted of high-performance multi-layered shells with a cohesive gel. The introduction of texturing saw the entrance of fourth generation implants from 1987. From 1993, fifth generation implants were introduced, and these have an anatomical shape with a highly cohesive gel. From 2010, sixth generation implants were introduced, and these have a biocompatible shell and a rheological gel. Other technologies such as radio frequency identification are associated with sixth generation silicone implants