Body implants have been used for thousands of years to modify the human body in various ways, from improving physical features to helping those with medical conditions.
The first use of body implants extends back to the 16th century in places like North America, in which metal skin implants were used alongside body piercings and tattoos to identify social status and to mark important life events.1 During the same time period in China, body implants were used to help improve physical features such as the shape of the nose, cheeks and chin.1 During the 19th century, implants became more commonplace in Europe and the US.2 In 1845, the first dental implant was created by dental surgeon Dr William Morton, allowing dentures to be securely attached to the jaw, and in 1895, US surgeon Dr August Bier performed the first successful breast augmentation surgery, using implants made of paraffin and…
