Breast implant, anatomically shaped, 120cc, Silastic silicone gel with Dacron patches, by Dow Corning, Midland, Michigan, 1972.
This implant was used by Brian Morgan in a cosmetic breast augmentation operation in the early 1970's, and was explanted in 1987.
'Silastic', a combination of the words 'silicone' and 'plastic', was registered as a trademark by Dow Corning in 1948 for a flexible silicone elastomer. It has a range of applications in medical and pharmaceutical devices, and in various industries.
The textured patches seen on the back of this implant were commonly used on early breast implants, and were intended to prevent movement of the implant within the body. The patches were abandoned in later implants as it was found that they may have been responsible for increasing capsule formation (the growth of scar tissue around the implant resulting in undesirable hardening of the breast). It was found that the patches were not needed for the implant to stay in its correct position.
