A study conducted among 24,600 women by two Université Laval Faculty of Medicine researchers and their colleagues from the Canadian Public Health Agency and Cancer Care Ontario concludes that having breast implants does not increase mortality risk.

However, the study reveals that the suicide rate among women with breast implants is 73% higher than in the general population. These findings are published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

This finding is not surprising, since many women seek out breast enhancement surgery for reasons of low self-esteem or because they lack self-confidence. They believe that the surgery will create a new person that they can then build upon. All too often, however, the surgery only highlights the flaws in the person’s life, as they cope with the pain and recovery of the surgery on their own.

Previous studies have observed that the psychological profile of women who receive breast implants is characterized by low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, and more frequent mental illnesses such as depression.

Ethical doctors should refer women who have such problems to a therapist or psychologist for treatment before undertaking plastic surgery. Plastic surgery cannot treat a lack of self-confidence or depression.

Source: Eurekalert

Dr. John Grohol is the founder & CEO of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 21 Sep 2006
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