Breast Form Evolution

Amoena has registered over 25 patent families and has a history rich in growth, technological advancements and diversification. Here are just some of the highlights since our founding in 1975: 

• 1975 First silicone breast form 
• 1984 Two-layer breast forms 
• 1988 Flowable gel back layer breast forms 
• 1990 First triangle shape breast form 
• 1992 First generation of attachable breast forms 
• 1996 Lightweight silicone breast forms 
• 1998 First breast form with integrated adhesive layer 
• 2001 Moldable back layer breast forms 
• 2004 Tawny color lightweight breast forms 
• 2005 Climate breast forms 
• 2008 Comfort+ technology breast forms 
• 2010 Energy breast forms 
• 2014 Cosmetic breast forms 
• 2020 Adapt Air adjustable breast forms 

A bumpy start for breast forms 

Breast form technology has come a long way over the years. At the beginning of the last century, breast prostheses didn't even exist. Women either went without or made their own using whatever materials they could find, often stuffing a hand-sewn bag with cotton wool or old rags. 

1940s & 1950s 

Proprietary breast forms did not come into existence until the 1940s, with the invention of the surgical bra. Pads were included in the cups of these bras to replace the missing breast. These were replaced in the 1950s by a rubber breast form invented by Dunlop which, according to one wearer, "look reasonably good, but feel unpleasant because they are rather hard and have a nasty tendency to sweat!" 

The next development was an inflatable prosthesis which seemed like a good idea but was beset by practical difficulties. Inevitably, they had an unfortunate habit of deflating – sometimes noisily – at any time. The opposite problem could be experienced by air travelers, as the change in atmospheric pressure in an aircraft cabin could cause the air inside the prosthesis to expand – sometimes with explosive results! 

Many women still remember the so-called ‘bird seed’ breast forms, which were actually filled with tiny glass beads. While they were fairly easy to adjust if women gained or lost weight they still didn’t adequately compensate for either natural feel or appearance because they did not move with the body. 

1960s & 1970s 

Things got a little better in the early 1960s when the liquid-filled breast form was invented. These not only looked like a real breast but moved naturally as well. They became the standard breast form of choice, until a young Bavarian plastics engineering student, Cornelius Rechenberg, started working in a corsetry factory that also made breast prostheses. 

Convinced that with the use of different materials and modern technology, something far better could be produced, Cornelius began experimenting using the unlikely combination of wallpaper paste and polythene bags. After much trial and error the first silicone breast form was born. In 1975 he started his own company, and the Amoena breast form was born. 

Breast form technology today 

Today, Amoena’s research and development team continues to work in close consultation with women who have had breast surgery, to find out exactly what they do and don’t like about the products available to them. This has seen the introduction of many new concepts, including the lighter weight breast form and innovative two-layer forms, which have liquid silicone at the back for added comfort. 

Thanks to Amoena’s technical ingenuity, more ground-breaking new concepts were to come, like the revolutionary Contact self-adhesive breast form that adheres directly to a woman’s chest wall, behaving just like a part of her own body, and the incorporation of Comfort+ technology into the Energy breast form for example, which helps regulate the temperature between the breast form and the chest wall – ideal for women suffering from hot flashes caused by menopause or hormonal treatment. 

Read about our most recent innovation, the Adapt Air adjustable breast form with patent-pending air chamber technology.

Looking ahead 

As women’s lifestyles become more active and as their needs evolve, Amoena is committed to developing products that meet their needs. New surgical techniques are also being introduced, which in turn influence the development of breast forms and the technologies behind them.

Related article: "The surgical techniques change the requirements," an interview with an Amoena breast form engineer