How to Get Bigger Breasts Without Surgery

Co-authored by Daniel Barrett, MD

Last Updated: November 11, 2024 Fact Checked

All bodies are beautiful, but if you’d prefer having bigger breasts, you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about going for it. In fact, it’s normal for your breasts to change size throughout your lifetime.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source

Johns Hopkins Medicine
Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital

Go to source} But how do you increase your breast size naturally? We’ll walk you through methods that work to make your breasts look bigger, as well as exercises to give your chest a boost without surgery. Plus, we’ll give you the facts on common breast enhancement myths and supplements.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Making Your Breasts Look Bigger

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1
Wear a bra that fits you correctly. Wearing a bra that’s too small may actually make your breasts look smaller, not bigger. On the other hand, wearing a bra that’s too big can make your breasts hang loosely and look smaller as a result. Here's how to find a better bra and wear it correctly:^{[2]
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University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment
Program in the University of Kentucky devoted to scientific research and public education

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- Ditch whatever idea you have of your “size.” Bra sizes aren’t standardized, so what fits you really well in one brand might be off in another.
- Check out modern lingerie companies that offer different styles of bra based on your breast shape (not just one style of bra cup/shape).
- Focus on the width of your band, not your cup size. Cup size is important, but only if you know whether you're a 32 or a 36.
- Don't wear your bra on the tightest hooks unless that's how it fits best. Otherwise, hook your bra in the place where it feels the most comfortable.
- Don't ever let your band ride up your back.
- Make sure your bra fits the type of outfit you're wearing. Don't wear the same style bra with different tops. Some may make your breasts look smaller than they really are.
2
Wear a padded or push-up bra. This is another quick and easy fix – no stuffing necessary. A padded bra can make your breasts look a bit bigger, and a push-up bra can take that to the next level. If you're in the market for a padded or a push-up bra, you should get fitted before you try one on, just as you should do with a real bra. Just make sure you don't get a bra that is so obviously padded that you've increased the size of your breasts by 3–that will be a little obvious.
- Avoid stuffing your bra with tissues or anything else, since it won’t look very realistic.
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3
Contour your breasts with makeup. Sound extreme? It's totally not. Women contour their breasts with makeup all the time, especially on movie sets. This creates the illusion of a bigger size, and it only requires a few brush strokes. Just be careful not to get makeup on the top of your shirt. You can even buy a makeup kit for this purpose if you're really committed; first, though, it's best to start off just using the makeup you have to see if you like the effect. If you want to give it a try, follow these steps:^{[3]
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- Get dressed, bra and all. Put on the outfit you're actually going to wear.
- Tuck tissue or toilet paper into the front of your shirt to protect it from makeup.
- Apply darker bronzer or powder in your cleavage area, moving down in between your breasts.
- Blend this color up and outward, making a v-shape along the natural curve of your breasts.
- Brush a lighter shade of eye shadow or face powder, such as gold or peach, over the top half of your breasts.
- Use a sponge to blend the shade to create a natural and fuller look for your breasts.
4
Perfect your posture. This is the easiest and quickest way to make your breasts look bigger. Keep your spine straight, your shoulders back, and your arms at your sides instead of folded across your chest. Let most of your weight sit in the balls of your feet.^{[4]
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MedlinePlus
Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine

Go to source} Good posture will not only make you look taller and more confident, but it will also make your breasts look perkier and bigger.
- When you're hunched over, so are your breasts. When you're standing tall and proud, so are they.
5
Wear clothes that emphasize your bust. This is another easy trick for making your breasts look bigger than they really are. Wear tops with frilly lace or patterns in the chest area, wear horizontal stripes that stretch out your breasts, and try shirts with low necklines that show your cleavage without revealing so much that your breasts actually look smaller. Wearing tops that have one color above your breasts and a different color below can also make them look bigger.
- Shirts or dresses that fan out just below the breast bone can also enhance the size of your breasts.
- Wear a dress or a shirt with an underwire and your breasts will naturally perk up.
- Wearing shirts that are too tight around the breasts, such as tube tops that are too tight or halters that don't quite fit, will actually make your breasts look smaller.
- You can also call attention to your breasts by wearing a pendant necklace that hangs in between your breasts.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Doing Exercises to Increase Chest Size

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1
Do push-ups. Push-ups are not only great exercise for your triceps, but they can also strengthen the pectoral muscles that are located below the breasts. Start by doing just 2 or 3 sets of 10 push-ups in one day if you're already physically strong. If push-ups are new to you, start with 2 sets of 5 and work your way up. As you become a push-up pro, you can "push" yourself to do even more each day. Here's how to do a push-up:^{[5]
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- Start with your stomach on the floor and your hands directly below your shoulders.
- Slowly push your body upwards into the plank position by pushing against the ground until your arms straighten as you rise onto your toes.
- Lower down to the ground without letting your stomach touch the floor and lift yourself up again.
- If this proves too challenging, start off by doing push-ups while keeping your knees and lower legs on the floor. This is still a great workout for your pecs.
2
Try doing bench presses. This is another great exercise that can help strengthen your pectoral muscles. All you have to do is find some dumbbells that are heavy enough to add a little resistance but not so heavy that you can’t have good form. If you’re a beginner, you can start somewhere around 7-12 pounds. You can do this exercise in the gym or even at home without a workout bench. Here's how to do it:
- Lie on a bench with your feet flat on the floor.
- Hold the dumbbells just outside your shoulders, with your palms pointing towards your feet.
- Raise the dumbells in the air so that your arms are straight, but not locked out.
- Gently lower the dumbells to your sides and repeat.
- You can think of this maneuver as mimicking the movements of a pushup while being on your back.
- Try 3 sets of 10 reps each.
3
Do fly lifts. To perform a basic fly lift, lie flat on your back, with your arms out at either side, holding light weights, ranging from 4-6 lbs. The weights should be held sideways, so the top of the weight faces you and the bottom faces away from you. Simply move your arms all the way outward, so your body is in the shape of a cross. When your arms reach their maximum span, just move them back inward, so they meet right above your chest. Keep moving your arms all the way out and then back inward to meet up above your chest.^{[6]
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- Do 2 sets of 15 fly lifts for your first effort. You can do more once you're comfortable with this move.
4
Do the wall press. This is another version of the push-up and also works your upper arms and pectoral muscles. Stand about two feet away from a wall with your palms pressed against the wall and your arms straight. Then, lean in toward the wall until your elbows are bent, while keeping your legs pretty much where they were. Use your arms and biceps to straighten out again. You can think of this as doing a push up against the wall.^{[7]
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- Repeat 10 wall presses 2 times for your first endeavor.
5
Do crunches. These exercises will trim some belly fat, and strengthen your ab muscles.
- Lay down with your arms to your sides and your knees bent. With your feet and arms still on the ground, sit up. Then, lay back down with your legs and arms in the same position.
- Repeat ten times for your first set. You do not want to overdo it, so about 1 or 2 sets a day is ideal.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Eating Foods to Support Breast Growth

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1
Eat foods that contain phytoestrogen. Studies are mixed as to whether this actually works to increase breast size, but lots of delicious foods contain it, so it’s easy to add phytoestrogen to your diet in moderation.^{[8]
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Research source} Here are some foods that are rich in phytoestrogen:
- Nuts such as pistachios, walnuts, cashews, and chestnuts
- Beverages such as red wine, white wine, black tea, and green tea
- Fruit such as peaches, strawberries, and raspberries
- Flax seeds
- Green beans and winter squash
2
Eat more foods that contain estrogen. Estrogen is a female hormone that is responsible for increasing the size of your breasts, among other things.^{[9]
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Research source} Though your body will naturally produce estrogen throughout your life, there's no harm in focusing on eating more foods that contain estrogen in moderation. Here are some foods that are known to be rich in estrogen:
- Lentils and chickpeas
- Lima and kidney beans
- Dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt
- Fenugreek seeds
- Spices such as sage, clover, and oregano
- Fruits such as apples, cherries, and plums
- Vegetables such as beets, carrots, and cucumbers
- Grains such as rice, barley, and wheat
3
Gain some weight. As you gain a few pounds, your breasts will fill out along with your stomach, thighs, and other parts of your body that tend to gain weight more easily than the rest.^{[10]
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Research source} You may not want to gain weight in order to get bigger breasts, but it's the most foolproof way to do it. To gain weight, just increase your caloric intake, focus on fattier foods like cheeses and sugary foods like cookies. Or just eat more of the food you love so you don't feel like you're actively trying to be unhealthy.
- This is a good move if you're on the thin side and could stand to gain a few pounds anyway. Obviously, though, this may not be the world's most appealing solution.
4
Avoid taking estrogen pills or estrogen supplements to increase breast size. While eating foods that contain estrogen and phytoestrogen in moderation may increase your breast size, you should not take estrogen pills simply for this reason. If you do think you have a need for these pills that goes beyond needing bigger breasts, then talk to your doctor, but don't go take these pills on your own. Unfortunately, the same medication that increases breast size has been linked to breast cancer, blood clots, and other ailments that are definitely not worth increasing the size of your breasts.
- Some studies argue that there is no proof that estrogen or phytoestrogen increases breast size at all.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Busting Myths About Breast Enhancement

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1
Don't get on the pill just to have bigger breasts. Some birth control pills increase breast size when people first start taking the pill (though this effect goes away after a few cycles). Since the effects are temporary, the birth control pill probably isn’t the best way to increase breast size, but if you have additional reasons for wanting to start oral contraception, talk to your doctor about whether or not this is the right decision for you.
- Starting to take the pill can lead to some potentially unpleasant side effects, such as mood swings and longer periods, but these effects typically resolve after 3 months.^{[11]
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2
Be patient with your body if you’re still growing. If you're a young girl, your breasts may not have reached their full size yet. Puberty affects everyone differently!^{[12]
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Johns Hopkins Medicine
Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital

Go to source} While you might feel that your breasts may have reached their full size already, they can grow naturally well into your late teens, or even later in some cases, as part of your development process. As you get older, you may also naturally gain a little weight or decide that going on the pill is right for you, and your breasts may end up growing without you noticing it.
- Don't rush off to change the size of your breasts before you've grown into your body.
3
Watch out for scams. You might see a ton of ads for pills, supplements, or even injections that are "proven" to make your breasts grow naturally. However, there are very few pills or supplements that have been proved to naturally work, and which have not been shown to have negative side effects. It's better to love your body the way it is or change up your diet/exercise routine than to do something that can have harmful effects on your health.^{[13]
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- Talk to your doctor before you take any so-called supplement.
Many women between the ages of 30 and 50 are paying up to $2,000 to use botox as a breast lift. Botox isn’t intended for use in breast tissue, and some doctors do say that the effect is barely worth it. The botox breast lift has been described as being barely different from the effect of altering your posture–which you can do for free.^{[14]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Surgical Options for Breast Augmentation

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1
Talk to a plastic surgeon if you’d like more drastic results.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Daniel Barrett, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Expert Interview. 23 July 2020.} If natural solutions aren’t giving you the look you want, it might be worth considering breast implants. People choose surgical augmentation for a variety of reasons–you might feel like it’ll improve your confidence, you might want to restore your breast shape after pregnancy or significant weight loss, or you might want reconstructive surgery after breast cancer or other breast surgeries.^{[16]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- The cost of breast implants plus a follow-up visit ranges from $5,000-$8,000.^{[17]
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- Insurance doesn’t cover breast augmentation surgery unless it’s medically necessary.^{[18]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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2
Silicone implants provide the most natural look. They're pre-filled implants with an outer silicone shell that moves to mimic the look of natural breast tissue.^{[19]
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Expert Source

Daniel Barrett, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Expert Interview. 23 July 2020.} The FDA has approved silicone implants for people over the age of 22 and people of any age for breast reconstruction.^{[20]
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US Food and Drug Administration
U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health

Go to source}
- There’s no “one size fits all” approach to implants. Your plastic surgeon will select and match an implant size for you.
- Every 5-6 years, you’ll need a breast MRI to monitor for silicone implant rupture.^{[21]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
  Go to source} These MRIs cost about $2,000 each.^{[22]
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3
Saline implants are cheaper, and they’re adjustable through an injection port. That means doctors can fine-tune the volume of the implant for several months after surgery in order to get the look and feel you want.^{[23]
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Research source} These implants are placed under the breast tissue like silicone implants, but unlike silicone implants, they are not pre-filled. They’re filled with sterile salt water after they’re inserted. If you’re 18 or older (or if you need breast reconstruction at any age), you can get saline implants.^{[24]
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US Food and Drug Administration
U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health

Go to source}
- Saline implants are usually $1,000 cheaper than silicone for the total procedure.^{[25]
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4
Fat grafting is an option for a small size increase without artificial implants. During fat grafting, surgeons use liposuction to take fat from another part of your body, like your thighs or stomach.^{[26]
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Expert Source

Daniel Barrett, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Expert Interview. 23 July 2020.} Then, they inject the fat into your breasts as a natural filler.^{[27]
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Research source} This is often used for minor breast reconstruction, and people report that the texture feels like their natural breast tissue. It’ll take about 4-6 sessions to achieve the results you want with fat grafting.^{[28]
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BreastCancer.org
Patient-focused nonprofit organization providing resources for those affected by breast cancer

Go to source}
- There are no long-term studies yet on whether this works for everyone and whether the results will last over time.
5
Understand the risks of surgery. Like any surgery, breast augmentation can lead to scar tissue, pain, infection, and changes in sensation.^{[29]
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Expert Source

Daniel Barrett, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Expert Interview. 23 July 2020.} The implant may shift, leak, or rupture, which might require additional surgery. Furthermore, you should talk to your doctor about these potential complications :^{[30]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

Go to source}
- Breast implants don’t prevent breasts from sagging. Your plastic surgeon may recommend a breast lift in addition to breast augmentation.
- Breast implants last about 10 years before they need to be replaced.
- You’ll need additional screening beyond routine mammograms (specialized views and breast MRIs).
- You’ll need additional reconstructive surgery if you decide to remove the implants.

Join the Discussion...

How do I get bigger boobs without surgery?

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WikiGladeRunner771

hi, i'm wondering is there any way i can get bigger boobs naturally? are there like any exercises i can do or foods to eat or vitamins to take or... Read More

WikiDugongWeaver655

Really the only way to get bigger boobs is to gain weight. But even then, you can't control where the fat will go—it might end up someplace oth... Read More

WikiLionReader433

Unfortunately the size of your boobs is mostly determined by genetics. There's not much you can do to make them naturally a lot bigger on your ow... Read More

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Question

What are the risks of breast augmentation?

Daniel Barrett, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Daniel Barrett is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and the owner of Barrett Plastic Surgery based in Beverly Hills, California. With over six years of plastic surgery experience, Dr. Barrett specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the face, nose and body. He has developed detailed scar management protocols and closure techniques to reduce the appearance of scars for his patients. Dr. Barrett obtained a BS from James Madison University and an MD along with an MS in Physiology and and an MHA (Masters of Health Administration) from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond.

Daniel Barrett, MD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Expert Answer

The major risks of breast augmentation surgery include all the risks of the general anesthesia procedure, although they're very low. The most common risk is what's called capsular contracture, and that's scar tissue that can form around the breast implant and creates hardness or firmness or pain, and sometimes it would require the surgery to be repeated. The other risks include bleeding, infection, pain, but those are not as common. There are also risks of nipple sensitivity loss, as well as inability to breastfeed. Currently, there is a reported 10% reduced ability to breastfeed after breast augmentation surgery.

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Can I get bigger breasts overnight?

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Most methods for increasing your breast size won’t make a noticeable difference overnight. However, you can make your breasts look bigger instantly by wearing a padded or pushup bra, or even using contouring makeup on your chest to enhance your cleavage!

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Can I take medications to make my breasts grow?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Hormonal medications, such as birth control pills or estrogen replacement pills, may cause your breasts to grow. However, these medications can cause unwanted side effects, so talk to your doctor about the risks before using them. There are also plant-based supplements on the market that claim to enhance breast size, but you should always use these with caution and talk to your doctor first, since they may cause side effects or interact poorly with other medications.

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Tips

Wear your true cup size instead of trying to use a bigger cup.

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Wear tight t-shirts that aren't a low V-neck.

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Pull your elbows way back and stick your chest way out to make your chest appear bigger.

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Tips from our Readers

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Another way to exercise your chest muscles is to place your palms together in front of you, push inward, then relax. Do this for 10 reps several times a day.
You might also try to massage your breasts for 5-10 minutes each day with a regular body lotion.

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