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.

While not usually deadly, wearing a tightly laced corset can be quite harmful to the wearer. They can reduce lung capacity, cause shortness of breath and fainting, produce skin irritations, compress the ribs, weaken back and chest muscles and have even been known to cause organ deformity.

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.

Does waist training or wearing corsets cause organ damage? 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.

And it didn't end with breathing difficulties or organ damage: in 1903, 42-year-old mother-of-six Mary Halliday died abruptly after a seizure. The New York Times reported that during her autopsy, “two pieces of corset steel were found in her heart, their total length being eight and three-quarter inches.

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.

Tight lacing does not cause your waistline to permanently shrink. You can benefit from it because it can help you feel confident and motivated; it can remind you to stick with your health goals and to eat in smaller portions.

If it turns out your corset is causing nausea, chances are you've been cinching too tightly, or you may have a garment that's not the right size or shape for your body. Luckily, you can remedy these issues easily.

A tightly laced corset could reduce lung capacity, irritate skin, and weaken back and chest muscles used to being supported.

How Long Should I Wear My Corset? As long as you are listening to your body and not experiencing any pain you can wear your corset as often and as long as you would like, though we do recommend taking a break of at least an hour each day.

What will happen if you wear corset everyday? ›

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.

potential reduction in lung capacity, depriving your body of oxygen. potential physical discomfort, interrupting sleep.

"Nevertheless, the effects are not likely to be long-term. It would take several months, or even years, to see significant slimming from waist training, and at some point, your body will return to its normal shape if the waist training is stopped."

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.

It turns out steel boned tight-lacing corsets and waist training can make you go down many dress sizes. They do not JUST shrink the mid-drift. They cinch down the top of the stomach causing you to crave less food.

Corseting only temporarily changes your body. Much like ear piercings, when you take out the piercing, the hole closes up. When you stop wearing your corset long enough, the waist returns to its natural shape. Any true semi-permanent effects on your waist from corseting take years to develop.

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.

In particular, waist trainers may compress the nerve that runs down from the groin. This can cause something called meralgia paresthetica — burning, tingling, and numbness in the outer thigh. Meralgia paresthetica has been associated with wearing a corset since the early 1900s.

Your corset should fit snugly against your body, but it should not be so tight that it is uncomfortable or causes any pain.