More women are having their breast implants removed. What’s behind the trend?
After decades of boob jobs appearing all over our screens, the latest trend in breasts is reverting to a more natural look, with a growing number of celebrities having “aesthetics reversal” procedures to remove their implants.
Kylie Jenner admitted on the final season of The Kardashians that she regrets having a breast augmentation at 19, telling her friend Anastasia “Stassi” Karanikolaou, “I had beautiful breasts, like natural tits. Sat perfectly – just gorgeous. Like, perfect size, perfect everything. And I just wish obviously I never got them done to begin with.” She went on, “I have a daughter, too. I would be heartbroken if she wanted to get her body done at 19.”
Chrissy Teigen has been open about her cosmetic surgery, including the removal of her breast implants.Credit: Getty Images
In the past year, Tori Spelling, Blac Chyna and Chrissy Teigen have all had their breast implants removed. Many women are choosing reversals due to breast implant illness (BII) which sufferers claim has symptoms including chronic fatigue, pain and brain fog. However, BII is not currently recognised as an official medical diagnosis.
Now that the natural, often braless look is officially a thing, it means nipples are also to the fore. But for those who don’t want to go au naturel, Kim Kardashian has added a bra with raised faux nipples to her Skims lingerie range.
How can breasts be best supported? Dr Cassann Blake, a pioneer in breast health, says wearing a bra doesn’t prevent breasts from sagging. Conversely, not wearing one doesn’t cause breasts to sag. However, she does say, “If you are a larger cup size, you may feel more comfortable wearing a bra because it might help alleviate back pain, which can be due to the weight of your breasts.”
For those of us still wearing a bra, a professional fitting is a game changer to ensure you get your cup size right. Storm in a D Cup in Sydney and She Science in Melbourne are great places to start.
Exercise can also help. Upper-body workouts can strengthen muscles in the chest, shoulders and upper arms, allowing breasts to sit higher on the chest wall. This can be further enhanced by maintaining good posture and keeping your back straight.
For those wanting some breast enhancement but keen to avoid implants, there is the option of a “natural breast augmentation”. This involves removing excess fat from one part of the body through liposuction and then injecting it into the breasts to change their size and shape.
Dr Anoop Rastogi, president of the Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery, says, “A liposuction fat graft is brilliant surgery as the grafts are permanent. Another advantage is that there is no scarring. This procedure can also be used on breast cancer patients who have had a mastectomy or lumpectomy.”
To keep your breasts in peak condition, first ensure your skincare goes all the way down to your nipples, including SPF 50+ sunblock daily. Invest in a dedicated product, like Clarins Bust Beauty Extra-Lift Gel, $90, and massage it into your breasts. As an added advantage, you’ll know straight away if there are any suspicious changes you should get investigated.
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