Plus-sized models driving new plastic surgery trend of bum lifts and breast implants, study warns

The increased popularity of plus-sized models may be driving the surge in bum lifts and breast implants in the West, academics claim.

Researchers said the rise of curvy celebrities like Ashley Graham could be increasing demand for the sometimes dangerous procedures.

A study compared the social media presence and body measurements of more than 100 models.

It found no significant difference in the number of likes, comments and posts among both groups, indicating an increased popularity in voluptuous models.

As a result, lead researcher Dr Neelam Vashi, a dermatologist at Boston University, said: ‘Plastic surgeons may see an increased interest in procedures, including breast and buttock augmentation, that embrace a curvaceous plus size body type.’ 

There has been a rise in the number of women going abroad to get the procedures over the last decade. 

The modelling industry was previously accused of promoting unhealthily thin body-types, which was linked to eating disorders like anorexia in young girls.

But curvier bodies have been increasing in popularity, with celebrities like the Kardashians and Beyonce at the forefront of the movement. 

Dr Vashi said the results showed the changing standard of beauty in pop culture.

Boston University academics said the presence of larger models like Ashley Graham (left) and Jordyn Woods (right) could be increasing demand for bum lifts and breast implants

The modelling industry was previously accused of promoting unhealthily thin body-types, which was linked to eating disorders like anorexia in young girls. Pictured: Kate Moss at the Elite Model Agency party in London in 1993

Brazilian butt lifts — when fat is taken from one part of the body and injected into the rear — have the highest risk of death of any cosmetic procedure. 

The injected fat can cause blockages in blood vessels in the lungs.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has advised against carrying them out until more is known about risks of the increasingly popular £8,000 surgery.

Despite this, they are still available in the UK as well as the US.

At least three women in Britain have died in the last three years from complications of surgeries carried out in Turkey, where procedures are often cheaper.

The latest study, published in the scientific journal Cureus, tracked measurements of 159 plus-sized and more traditionally thin American and British models. 

Researchers recorded their eye color, hair color, height, bust measurement, waist measurement, dress size and shoe size, taken from public records.

They then tracked their follower count, average number of likes, comments and posts on Instagram to see how their social media presences differed.

Among plus-sized models, Ashley Graham had the largest amount of followers, with more than 12 million. 

She was followed by Jordyn Woods (11.7million), who formerly best friends of Kylie Jenner. 

Iskra Lawrence (4.6million) — the 31-year-old British model — and Ashley Alexis Smith (2.2million), an American model and swimwear entrepreneur. 

For comparison, the largest accounts for mainstream models were Kendall Jenner (154million) — who has a 24in waist — and Gigi Hadid (64.4million). 

Collectively, the 144 plus-sized models who had Instagram accounts had more than 51million followers and 190,000 posts.

The top 10 most popular plus-sized models had an average of 3.8million followers, compared to 38million in the mainstream models.

But there was no significant difference between the likes per post, average comments per post and total posts relative to their follower count.

The researchers said this demonstrated the increased presence of larger models on social media. 

They also claimed the fashion industry has boosted representation of curvaceous figures within their marketing campaigns and altering models figures with padding.

Writing in the journal, they said: ‘Over time, the presence of plus-size models has increased within the fashion industry. 

‘Societal pressures on retailers to incorporate an increased body diversity that fully represents their consumer base of society with an average dress size of 14 to 16 and BMI of 26.5 is likely contributory to the increasing presence of plus-size models. 

‘This shift can be seen within the results of this study, as many of the top plus-size models had a significant social media presence.’

Plus size modelling kicked off in the mid-2000s, after Jean-Paul Gaultier and John Galliano used larger women in their Spring 2006 showings in Paris.

The trend has boomed and become more mainstream in recent years, popularised by models like Ashley Graham and Tess Holliday.