Forget fillers in the lips and cheeks; Today, women receive injections directly into their nipples.
That’s according to plastic surgeons in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, who say the trend is starting to take off.
They are looking for injections to make their breasts appear ‘perkier’ and ‘excited’, amid a growing trend of women going braless in sheer tops.
Dr. Norman Rowe, a plastic surgeon in New York City, says he now sees up to five women a week for the procedure, which involves injecting filler directly into the base of the nipple.
This lifts the tip, making it perkier and giving it a more upright appearance.
Dr. Anna Avaliani, a cosmetic surgeon in New York who is also seeing a surge in patients, added: ‘People travel across the US to see me… people don’t change the size of their nipples, they just improve the appearance and try to look more “excited.”
The trend comes as women try to emulate celebrities like Bella Hadid, Lauren Sanchez and Bianca Censori, who tend to leave the nipple loose.
This is how popular the trend has become: Kim Kardashian’s cThe SKIMS brand even sells tops with nipple pads.
There are also suggestions that women are taking inspiration from Bianca Censori, pictured above in France in February this year. Surgeons said filler may have been injected into her nipples
Plastic surgeons say celebrities are inspiring women to seek firmer nipples, including Bella Hadid (left) and Emma Corrin. No surgeons suggested either had used fillers to enhance their nipples, but they said the pair could inspire the trend
Dr. Roy Kim, a plastic surgeon with a practice in San Francisco, said, “This is definitely a trend, but I do think it’s limited to younger to middle-aged patients who want less bra or don’t want to cover their nipples. a lot,” he said.
It’s not clear whether celebrities have undergone the procedure, although surgeons say famous people are helping inspire the trend.
This month, both Emma Corrin and Charli XCX wore tops on the red carpet that revealed their nipples.
Doja Cat, Zoe Kravitz, Bianca Censori and Rihanna also often show their nipples in see-through clothing.
Dr. Rowe said he wouldn’t be surprised if some of those celebrities trimmed their nipples to keep them firm, adding that all four had “a lot of projection” at the nipples.
The “free the nipple” movement started in 2012 by filmmaker Lina Esco, who filmed herself walking topless through New York City.
The aim was to achieve gender equality by encouraging women to expose their nipples in the same way that men often do.
Filler injected into the nipples lasts six months to two years, depending on the type used.
Kim Kardashian is also said to inspire the trend. Her clothing brand, SKIMS, sells items with nipple inserts to accentuate them
Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos’ girlfriend, also inspires women because of her prominent nipples
Plastic surgeons suggested Doja Cat may have had filler injected into her nipples, saying they looked perkier than they would normally expect
Other options include surgery to elevate the nipple, but surgeons say this is less popular as it can lead to scarring.
The procedure costs up to $5,000 and is considered “generally safe,” although patients may experience swelling in the week or two after the injections.
Dr. Kim said that up to two-thirds of the patients he sees for the procedure have also already had breast augmentation or “boob jobs.”
People with inverted nipples — where the tip of the nipple points inward — or nipples that they feel are too long after breastfeeding have also sought the procedure.
In rare cases, men have also come forward for the procedure; surgeons said these men were also looking for “harder and more protruding” nipples.