The dangers of tight lacing: the effects of the corset — Royal College of Surgeons (2024)

FAQs

The dangers of tight lacing: the effects of the corset — Royal College of Surgeons? ›

Women were often laced so tightly their breathing was restricted leading to faintness. Compressing the abdominal organs could cause poor digestion and over time the back muscles could atrophy. In fact, long term tight lacing led to the rib cage becoming deformed.

Corsets worn for long periods of time and cinched very tightly can and often will redistribute organs (kidneys, liver, intestines) as seen in this MRI. It is important to note, however, that pregnancy has a similar effect on a woman's internal organs.

Wearing a corset does not lead to a permanent change in your waist—only surgery can do that! However, a daily waist training practice can help you achieve the shape you want in the short term, and give you the tools you need to work towards sustainable long-term change.

Overall, there seems to be little direct evidence that tight lacing had permanent effects on the wearer. Nevertheless, the restriction of the organs -- which could cause poor digestion, poor breathing and poor function otherwise while wearing a tightly laced corset -- was a cause for concern for some doctors.

The corset controversy was a moral panic and public health concern around corsets in the 19th century. Corsets, variously called a pair of bodys or stays, were worn by European women from the late 16th century onward, changing their form as fashions changed.

A tight-laced corset can reduce lung capacity, cause shortness of breath and fainting, produce skin irritations, compress the ribs, weaken back and chest muscles and even cause organ deformity.

Women were often laced so tightly their breathing was restricted leading to faintness. Compressing the abdominal organs could cause poor digestion and over time the back muscles could atrophy. In fact, long term tight lacing led to the rib cage becoming deformed.

your core muscles can weaken a bit if you wear it every day. if you tight-lace a corset your internal organs shift a bit to accommodate the squeezing, which for some people causes diarrhea or constipation. some people lose some weight, as it's harder to overeat.

“When you just put something around your waist to cinch it in, fat is being distorted inside that fat cell, but the fat cell isn't breaking down,” she said. “It's not shifting to another place. It's just being squished.”

sorry, no. Waist training with a corset doesn't magically melt body fat, but it can make some big changes to your body! Fat loss is achieved when you use more calories than you bring in to your body - through a combination of diet and exercise. Corsets don't target fat loss, as much as we may like.

Can corsets cause liver damage? ›

The compressive forces induced by wearing a faja corset may have contributed to the formation of a subcapsular liver hematoma in our patient, similar to a phenomenon known as tight-laced liver.

Post-World War I

A return to waist nipping corsets in 1939 caused a stir in fashion circles but World War II ended their return as women entered the workforce en masse and material shortages again became widespread, necessitating sleeker, more utilitarian designs.

“Continuous pressure from tight corsets can also squeeze the nerves, leading to numbness, tingling, or even nerve damage in the waist and abdomen area." Tight corsets can restrict blood flow, leading to poor circulation.

"Essentially, there were health and safety concerns about keeping women in a pinching corset for weeks at a time. Many stars have reported bruising and even breathing problems." The report also said that Bridgerton producers have told their cast they would no longer be wearing corsets.

A properly fitted corset is designed to fit snugly, but not tight. After all, it isn't the ribcage that's meant to be compressed, but the fatty tissue of the waist. When the Victorian corset is laced, it squishes the fat downward into the abdomen where it won't show.

Such presentation appealed to women wishing to appear sexually desirable, while simultaneously conveying the idea that beauty, femininity, and sex were inextricably linked through the corset. The corset afforded women a measure of control over their sex appeal and therefore their own sexuality.

Your corset should fit snugly against your body, but it should not be so tight that it is uncomfortable or causes any pain. Once you've got the right size, it's time to start lacing!

Expert-Verified Answer

Tight lacing, or corset training, can affect the digestive system by reducing appetite, slowing down digestion, causing acid reflux and heartburn, and potentially leading to constipation and organ displacement.

Generally speaking, waist training is the practice of wearing a corset to achieve a smaller waist measurement, corseted or uncorseted. Tightlacing, to some, means wearing a corset literally 23/7 (removing it only to bathe), whereas the definition I lean towards is wearing a corset with a dramatic waist reduction.

Waist trainers don't just affect the external look of your waist. Over time, Dr. Wakim-Fleming states that this continual compressing of your internal organs can lead to serious damage and can even reduce muscle strength.