Breast implants are linked to a higher risk of suicide. A new Swedish study followed 3,527 women who received breast prostheses between 1965 and 1993. Researchers analyzed trends according to the causes of female mortality. 175 of the women committed suicide during the duration of the study – a figure three times higher than the average for the risk of suicide among women in the general population. The risk was observed 10 years after the surgery.
Lead author of the study, Loren Lipworth, told Reuters that the risk of suicide should be assessed in patients who have cosmetic breast surgery. She also notes that although the results do not demonstrate a causal relationship between breast implants and suicides, women who decide to have them may be at greater risk for psychiatric problems in general, possibly due to low self esteem or body image issues.
The findings of this study corroborate the findings of previous studies. In 2014, Canadian scientists also noticed a high suicide rate among women who had breast implants. However, they were notably less exposed to the risk of other diseases such as cancer.
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