'Ballerina boobs': why smaller breasts are becoming the new beauty trend

Breast augmentation surgery was once a dominant trend as fuller figures became a widely celebrated beauty standard — but the pendulum is swinging the other way. Small, natural-looking breasts are gaining traction on social media, and "ballerina boobs" is emerging as the beauty world's latest fixation.

The trend has been spreading globally, driven largely by TikTok, with more women gravitating toward a smaller, firmer silhouette. Where voluptuous curves and pronounced contours once set the standard, a growing number of women now say they value comfort and a natural look that complements their overall body shape.

The shift is showing up in plastic surgery clinics as well. Recent statistics from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons show that breast reduction and implant removal procedures in the United Kingdom have, for the first time, outnumbered breast augmentation surgeries.

A 2025 survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) found that 36 percent of plastic surgeons said their patients were choosing smaller implants than before.

"We are seeing more patients who either want a smaller, more balanced implant from the outset, or who want to downsize implants placed years ago," said Noel Natoli, a plastic surgeon with the ASPS. "Fashion and runway trends are moving away from overly large, artificial-looking implants, and many patients want a softer, more natural appearance."

The trend is resonating in South Korea as well. A plastic surgeon at a clinic in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, said on social media that demand for smaller breasts has noticeably increased. "It seems to be popular among people who exercise a lot or who care about how their clothes fit — smaller breasts make outfits look better and don't get in the way of physical activity," the surgeon said.

Actor Hwang Jung-eum also recently disclosed that she had breast augmentation surgery years ago and has since had her implants removed. In a video on her YouTube channel, Hwang said she wanted larger breasts when she was young. "Breast surgery was trendy in 2010," she said. "After the surgery, my circulation was poor, I gained a lot of weight, my body felt thick and heavy — it was a burden."

"These days, not having surgery is the norm, so I had mine removed," she added. "It feels so comfortable. I don't know why I ever did it. I spent money to damage my body and now I'm spending more to recover. Natural is always best."

However, concerns are growing that content on social media glamorizing specific beauty ideals could push people toward unnecessary cosmetic procedures. Online, voices are pushing back against trend-driven surgery, with some asking whether it is right to encourage people to alter their bodies the way they change clothes, and whether breasts should be subject to fashion trends at all.

Patrick Mallucci, a plastic surgeon at Mallucci London, flagged what he called the "Pinterestification" of body parts and urged caution about trends that influence surgical decisions. "Beauty standards are constantly changing, and procedures should never be performed simply to follow the trend of the moment," he said. "What looks beautiful and balanced on one person may not suit another."