Why Does Breast Enlargement Remain So Popular?
Because, for the right person, it works well and women are pleased with the results.
Breast enlargement has been the most popular cosmetic operation in the UK for many years, and remains so. Long-term studies show high levels of satisfaction a decade after surgery. And the operation itself has changed. Today's best results are proportionate and natural, a long way from the exaggerated look many people still picture when they hear the words "breast implants".
Ms McEvoy has written separately about the problems that can occur with implants, how long they last and when removal makes sense. This one sets out why so many women choose breast enlargement, who it suits, and what a good result looks like today.
This is the first article in a series of four:
Why Does Breast Enlargement Remain So Popular?
How Long Do Breast Implants Last?
Should I Have My Breast Implants Removed?
How popular is breast enlargement?
Very. In the 2025 audit by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), breast augmentation was again the most common cosmetic operation, with almost 4,800 procedures carried out by its members alone. Implant removal, by comparison, accounted for around 850. Worldwide, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) records breast augmentation as one of the three most common cosmetic operations every year.
Are women happy with the results?
Overwhelmingly, yes. In the ten-year follow-up of Allergan's shaped silicone implants, more than 96% of women who had a primary augmentation were still somewhat or definitely satisfied with their implants. The equivalent study of round implants showed similarly high satisfaction.
Those figures are notable because they come from the same studies that carefully recorded every complication, including silent ruptures found on MRI. Even with an account of the risks, most women felt the operation had been worthwhile. Many women live with their implants for decades without any significant problem.
Women commonly describe benefits beyond appearance: clothes fitting as they would like, feeling more comfortable in swimwear, and no longer being preoccupied by something they have been self-conscious about for years.
Who is breast enlargement suitable for?
It tends to suit women who:
Have naturally small breasts that never developed to a size in proportion with the rest of their figure.
Have lost volume after pregnancy, breastfeeding or significant weight loss, particularly in the upper part of the breast.
Have noticeable asymmetry, where one breast is clearly larger than the other.
Have a developmental difference in breast shape, such as tuberous breasts, where the breast base is narrow and constricted.
Are in good general health, are non-smokers or willing to stop, and are at a stable weight.
Have clear, realistic expectations and understand that implants may need further surgery at some point in their lives.
Breast implants also play an important part in reconstruction after mastectomy, which is a quite different but equally valuable use of the same technology.
Who is it not suitable for?
A good surgeon will advise against surgery, or suggest waiting, for women who:
Are under 18. UK professional guidance advises against cosmetic breast surgery in this age group.
Are planning a pregnancy soon, as pregnancy and breastfeeding may change the result.
Mainly have loose or drooping skin, who may be better served by an uplift (mastopexy), with or without an implant.
Want only a modest increase and would prefer to avoid an implant, for whom fat transfer may be an alternative.
Are seeking surgery to please a partner or are preoccupied with a perceived flaw out of proportion to what others see. In the latter case, a surgeon should explore this carefully before offering any operation.
Do breast implants always look obvious?
No. The image of very large, high, round breasts that many people associate with implants owes a lot to the celebrity culture of the 1990s and 2000s. It is not what most women ask for today, and it is not what most surgeons aim to deliver.
Modern breast augmentation is planned around the woman's own anatomy rather than a cup size. The surgeon measures the width of the breast, the stretch of the skin and the thickness of the tissue covering the implant and chooses an implant that fits within those limits. This approach, often called tissue-based planning, produces results that look and move naturally, and is associated with fewer long-term problems than simply choosing the largest implant a patient requests.
The practical upshot is that most women with well-planned implants look like women with naturally fuller breasts. Many people you meet have implants without your ever knowing.
What makes a natural-looking result?
Several choices work together:
Proportionate size: an implant that suits the width of the chest and the existing breast tissue.
Implant position: placing the implant partly beneath the chest muscle can soften the upper edge in slimmer women with little natural tissue.
Implant shape and profile: round and shaped (teardrop) implants come in a range of projections, allowing a gentler slope where that suits the patient.
Careful technique: precise pocket creation, minimal handling of the implant and attention to sterility all reduce the risk of complications such as capsular contracture.
These decisions are best made together, at a consultation with your chosen surgeon.
Is breast enlargement safer than it used to be?
In several important ways, yes. Today's implants have stronger shells and more cohesive gel than earlier generations. The heavily textured implants most strongly linked with BIA-ALCL have been withdrawn. Surgical techniques designed to reduce bacterial contamination have helped lower rates of capsular contracture. And in the UK, implants and procedures are recorded on the national Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry, so that patients can be traced quickly if a safety concern arises.
None of this removes the need for a frank conversation about risk, which our companion articles cover in detail. But it does mean that the decision can be made on the basis of current evidence rather than the headlines of 20 years ago.
How do I decide whether it is right for me?
Start with a consultation with a surgeon on the General Medical Council (GMC) specialist register in plastic surgery who performs breast surgery regularly. Allow time to think it over. UK professional guidance recommends a cooling-off period between consultation and surgery. Ask about implant type, size, position, the likely need for future surgery, and what happens if you change your mind.
To arrange a consultation with Ms McEvoy please use the links below to telephone or email, or to fill out our contact form click here.
Privately, she performs breast augmentation, reduction, uplift (mastopexy), implant removal, implant exchange and reconstruction. A consultation with her will give you an assessment of whether breast enlargement suits you, and what a natural, proportionate result would look like.
Consider Your Next Step
A consultation is where every good treatment starts. There will be no obligation to proceed. The aim is to provide information and clarity, not pressure to have a treatment.
References
British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. Analysis of BAAPS Audit 2024-2025. London: BAAPS; 2026.
Spear SL, Murphy DK; Allergan Silicone Breast Implant U.S. Core Clinical Study Group. Natrelle round silicone breast implants: Core Study results at 10 years.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014;133(6):1354-1361.
Tebbetts JB, Adams WP Jr. Five critical decisions in breast augmentation using five measurements in 5 minutes: the high five decision support process.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005;116(7):2005-2016.