Popular plus-size models drive plastic surgery trend

PLUS-SIZE models are driving demand for buttock lifts and breast implant procedures, according to research.

High-profile plus-size models such as Ashley Graham and Tess Holliday are just as popular on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as Gigi Hadid and Cara Delevingne, say researchers from the Boston University school of medicine.

There is no significant difference between likes, comments and total posts among both groups.

Prof Neelam Vashi said: “Plastic surgeons may see an increased interest in procedures, including breast and buttock augmentation, that embrace a curvaceous plus-size body type.”

“Butt lifts” are the fastest growing cosmetic treatment in the world. In the US alone, 61,387 were carried out last year. They include both implants and fat-grafting and are becoming increasingly common in the UK – despite costing up to £8,000.

Prof Vashi said: “The fashion industry has also acknowledged the increasing popularity of plus-size models by representing curvaceous figures within their marketing campaigns – and even altering models’ figures with padding.”

An analysis of social media data found the average following among the top 10 plus-size models was 3.8 million.

Prof Vashi said: “There was no significant difference between the average likes per post, average comments per post, and total posts between the top mainstream models and top plus-size models.

“We sought to explore the impact of plus-size models by reviewing their body size metrics and social media presence to better understand their emerging role in the current standards of beauty.”

Waist-to-hip ratio remained low among plus-size and mainstream models – 0.74 and 0.69 respectively – illustrating a constant and objective standard of beauty. The study included 159 plus-sized models. Average height was 5ft 9in, bust 40in, waist 43in, hips 46in and dress size 14.

Prof Vashi said: “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.”

The findings were published in the journal