The silicone gel implants available for breast augmentation are taken for granted today, but the history of how these implants were developed and approved illustrates how far this technology has come. Although the difficulties exhibited with the use of such engrafts in the past are many, this process of trial and error has led to an implant that is safer than ever before.

Dow Corning first developed the use of this chemical for various applications during World War II. This development was utilized in 1961 with the guidance of two Texas plastic surgeons, Frank Gerow and Thomas Cronin, to manufacture the first silicone implant for use in breast augmentation. The new Dow Corning implant's first use took place the next year in 1962. This first generation implant utilized a thick envelope with a thick viscous version of a gel.

Although the next generation of engraft was innovated to make them softer and more natural feeling, this second generation silicone implant turned out to be much more dangerous and unstable than the first generation. Most of the class action lawsuits involving these ingraft is connected to second generation of implants. Once the second genesis implant shells were strengthened with a polyurethane foam coating they became safer for breast augmentation, but only after passing government tests for carcinogenic effects from the polyurethane. The "double lumen" type of implant was also developed at this time using a saline implant to surround a silicone implant, thereby enhancing safety, but this design's complexity turned out to be unstable and unsafe in the long run.

Newer forms of such implanting created in the 1980s used various methods to create a stronger shell and they went back to a more solid mixture of it like the first genesis. These steps all reduced the chances of an implant leaking. The most recent innovation in breast augmentation engraft comes in the form of the solid or stable engraft affectionately called "Gummy Bear". These are just being approved for use in the United States today, although they have been in use in other parts of the world for over 15 years. This kind of implant is much safer because the thickness of the entire solid implant makes any kind of migration or leakage impossible.

The development of silicone implants has steadily improved the safety of these devices for breast augmentation over the years. With the proper government oversight as well as cooperation between the FDA and the industry developing these implants, they have become safe and effective for long term enjoyment. CBKB562010