Brides risk surgery for that ultimate wedding day boost reported in the
Daily MailEvery woman wants to look her best when she walks down the aisle. But it seems the pursuit of perfection is taking on dramatic new dimensions.
Cosmetic surgeons have reported a huge rise in women paying for breast enlargements ahead of their weddings.
The number of operations has gone by up 75 per cent since January, according to one leading firm.
Of these, 60 per cent of the patients said they were undergoing the procedure specifically to try to look their best when they get married.
Wedding planners have attributed the trend to the decline of the traditional meringue- style wedding dress, in which a mass of material hid 'imperfections' such as a flat chest or large stomach.
They claim women are turning to surgery because of the fashion for sleeker - and more unforgiving - gowns.
Maria Yiannikaris, owner of the Mirror Mirror bridal shops in North London, said: 'Girls say, "I need to wait for my fitting", then turn up later with very high and firm breasts.
'What we have seen in the past two years is what we call catwalk glamour gowns. We have a lot of slimmer, slinkier dresses in stock at the moment.
'Ten years ago you could not use the word "sexy" in the same sentence as "bride" - it was not considered appropriate - but now most brides want to show off their figure.'
Katy Kearns, manager of the Wedding Dress Shop in Wimbledon, South-West London, said: 'In the past, women have gone for structured, corseted gowns, regardless of their figure and breast size and shape, as this style is easily worn.
'However, the trend is now influenced by delicate, fluid styles with lots of lace, thin spaghetti straps and no structure at all.'
SurgiCare, which has six clinics across Britain, carried out 105 breast augmentations in January, but have done 183 so far in April, many on women desperate to look their best for their summer weddings.
Jackie O'Neil
Breast is best: Jackie O'Neil has never looked back after breast surgery took her from a 32AA to a 32C in time for her wedding in June
Chief executive Mark Bury said it had to turn away frantic women who had not left enough time to fully recover from the operation ahead of their big day.
It takes around six weeks to fully recover and about three months to see the best results.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons says breast augmentation procedures rose by 30 per cent from 6,487 in 2007 to 8,439 last year
