often cite a height of up to 15 cm (6 inches). Devotees of this silhouette trained their figures for many years and only a few public examples exist. Usually this figure is adopted for erotic purposes or as part of the body modification movement. Criticisms Corsets were criticized as detrimental to the wearer's health. While they have been praised as a device for improving posture, many health care professionals advise against the use of constrictive garments for extended periods. The shape of the rib cage could be altered by tightly laced corsets. Also, tightly laced corsets can irritate skin, reduce lung capacity, and weaken muscles that support the back and the chest. Some of the long-term effects that are thought to be caused by tight-corset wearing include reduced pelvis size, constipation and digestive issues, and reproductive problems. See also History of corsets Tightlacing Corset controversy References External links The Corset: Questions of Pressure and Displacement. 1887 what a modern pipe-stem waist looks like. 1830s fashion 1880s fashion 19th-century fashion History of clothing (Western fashion) Victorian fashion Corsetry