# Breast Augmentation -- How long has this been going on? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 18, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-augmentation-how-long-has-this-been-going-on/473376 "2008-11-18T23:11:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-augmentation-how-long-has-this-been-going-on/473376/1 "2008-11-18T23:11:13Z")
A lot of actresses (and regular folks, as well) nowadays pay to get bigger boobs. I was wondering – how long have we had the technology to do this? Perhaps a better question would be: How long has this type of plastic surgery been affordable? Since the 1980s? Or before that? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-augmentation-how-long-has-this-been-going-on/473376/2 "2008-11-18T23:25:05Z")
Since the 1890’s, according to this site: [History of Breast Implants and Augmentation](http://www.beyondniptuck.com/history/) It didn’t really hit its stride until the 1960’s and silicone implants, however. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-augmentation-how-long-has-this-been-going-on/473376/3 "2008-11-19T00:04:26Z")
There’s a great BBC [series](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00d4b70) by Micheal Mosley called “Blood and Guts” that in one episode examined early plastic surgery (which is far far earlier than you’d imagine). As in **Qadgop the Mercotan** ’s link, hot paraffin wax was used (even in facelifts :eek:) before silicone was available. I don’t recall if breasts per se were a topic, but if you’re interested in surrounding topics, I’d recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-augmentation-how-long-has-this-been-going-on/473376/4 "2008-11-19T00:12:06Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Since the 1890’s, according to this site: [History of Breast Implants and Augmentation](http://www.beyondniptuck.com/history/) > > It didn’t really hit its stride until the 1960’s and silicone implants, however. First, let me say, Holy $#!%!!!. Second, that guy really needs to remove the link to the satirical [Tara Reid Breast Implant](http://www.pugbus.net/artman/publish/122905_readsol.shtml) article from his page. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-augmentation-how-long-has-this-been-going-on/473376/5 "2008-11-19T02:44:59Z")
Tangentially related, but supposedly Lon Chaney injected fat into his face (to create a more boney look by beefing up his cheekbones and such) to play the role of the Phantom of the Opera back in 1925. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-augmentation-how-long-has-this-been-going-on/473376/6 "2008-11-19T09:18:29Z")
IN the British Museum there is a mummy of a soldier from circa 1500 BC with a prothetic toe. I would not be surprised if breast augmentation was around then. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-augmentation-how-long-has-this-been-going-on/473376/7 "2008-11-19T15:58:40Z")
I don’t recall where I read it (which says I don’t know how trustworthy it is), But I read somewhere that immediately post-WWII Japanese women (bar girls, I assume) were having silicone injected for breast augmentation in order to appeal to the American GIs. The syuff was production grade, and not packaged in implants. It’s plausible, but I don’t know if it’s true.