Breast
Implants Linked to Higher Suicide Rate
By Jeanna
Bryner
LiveScience Staff Writer
BBoosting
breast size with plastic surgery has been linked
to a significantly higher suicide rate among women
in a new 15-year study.
While overall risk of health
problems did not change, the suicide rate was much
higher for women with breast implants compared with
the general population, scientists announced today.
Jacques Brisson and Louis Latulippe of Laval University
in Quebec, Canada, and their colleagues from the
Canadian Public Health Agency and Cancer Care Ontario
collected information on 24,600 women who had received
breast implants for cosmetic purposes.
The women, who underwent the implant surgery at
an average age of 32, completed regular follow-up
visits from 1974 to 1989-the study's duration.
The researchers also monitored a control group of
women during the study.
Better physical health
A total of 480 women with breast implants died during
this period. Compared with the control group, the
scientists calculated the mortality rate was 26
percent lower in the women with breast implants.
The discrepancy can be accounted for, they said,
by the fewer deaths from cancer, notably breast
cancer, and heart
disease for the women with breast implants.
Rather than a consequence of the breast augmentations,
Brisson suggested the lower mortality could be attributed
to socio-economic status.
"First, a woman must be in relatively good
health to undergo breast implant surgery,"
Bisson said. "Also, women who receive breast
implants tend to be of higher-than-average socioeconomic
status. Thus, women who undergo breast augmentation
surgery are more likely to be in better health than
the general population."
Poor mental health
Physically healthy, yes, but what about their mental
health?
The researchers discovered the suicide rate is 73
percent higher in participants with breast implants
relative to the control group. The connection between
breast implants and suicide was not tested and no
direct link was found between the two.
However, Bisson said previous studies have characterized
women who receive breast implants by a low self-esteem,
lack of self-confidence and more frequent mental
illnesses such as depression.
The research team also analyzed a group of 16,000
women who had undergone plastic surgery procedures
other than breast augmentation. They found similar
results, with a lower mortality
rate and a higher suicide rate than the
general population.
The findings are published in a recent issue of
the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Jury's out
Brisson said the debate over the safety of breast
implants is far from being settled.
"Our study shows that there is no relation
between breast implants and mortality rate,"
he said. "But our study does not assess the
impact of breast implants on other aspects of women's
health." For instance, degradation of the implants
could lead to leakage of the saline or silicone
contents, although the Food and Drug Administration
stated there is insufficient evidence of the harmful
effects of leakage for approved implant materials.
"Women must take those facts into consideration
when determining whether or not they want to receive
breast implants," Brisson said.
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