And thanks to the latest surgical developments, it’s now possible to give your bust some oomph in a more subtle way. Victoria is said to have had her surgically-enhanced double Ds ­reduced to a more modest B cup, and a series of ops have taken Katie down from a 32F to 32C.

In Mrs Beckham’s case, the popstar-turned-designer realised that glamour-model boobs didn’t cut it in the fashion industry. While Jordan, the ultimate glamour girl, finally realised there was such a thing as too big.

Tastes are also changing in Hollywood, the home of cosmetic surgery, where the trend for pneumatic fake breasts has prevailed since the 1980s.

But now it seems the movie business is ­demanding a return to reality when it comes to boobs. This month Disney ­Studios’ casting call for female extras for the fourth Pirates Of The ­Caribbean film included an unexpected requirement: “Must have real breasts”.

And more and more agents are advising ­actresses to “tone down” their assets. No wonder women are heading to surgeons in their droves to have former implants ­reduced, or to try one of the new less invasive ops that promise a more modest bust boost.

Forget the chest rocks we’ve become accustomed to – silicone implants that resemble large, immovable grapefruits. The demand now is for softer, more realistic results. Women don’t want people to know they’ve had surgery and are willing to pay more for these newer techniques.

And although the number of women having breast ops continues to rise, it’s not just young women having surgery these days. Women in their mid-30s to 40s are beginning to take the plunge, after pregnancy and breast-feeding have left their bust feeling saggy and they crave a discreet return to their former glory.

But just what new ­techniques are on offer – and can they really give us the perfect breasts we’ve always dreamed of? We look at some of the options.

"I wanted a natural boost - not boobs like Jordan!"

So Macrolane injections were the perfect answer. I had them last summer, a month before I went on holiday to Ibiza. I was worried it would hurt, but it was fine and I was very pleased with the results. I went from a 32C to a 32D. The healing process was very quick. The tiny marks underneath my boobs healed after five days and the swelling went down within two weeks.

My friends were very impressed and it gave me so much more confidence, but nobody else would know I’d had anything done. My breasts felt soft but fuller and ‘real’, not hard like implants.

The only downside is Macrolane doesn’t last forever. I had my first yearly top-up a couple of weeks ago. My breasts hadn’t gone down much but they’d lost a little bit of volume and I wanted a boost. It was as pain-free and as quick healing as the first time.”

DIY boob boosters

The cheat bra

Ultimo’s clever Day- Night Plunge Bra can increase your assets by up to two cup sizes. Wear the basic bra for work then boost your bust at night by adding the silicone pouches.

The boob-job bikini

A gel bikini offers a natural-looking way to boost cup size and create cleavage. Discreet liquid-filled pads are sewn inside the bikini cups to give a “real breast” look.

The lunchtime lift

Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow are reported to be fans of Ultratone Bust Lift, a salon treatment that uses electrical pulses to tone muscles and give the effect of a natural boob lift.

Wonderbra in a jar

Bust-firming creams won’t increase your cup size but they can plump up the skin.

Source: Daily Mirror