Women who have breast implants are three times more likely to commit suicide, according to a new report in this month’s issue of the Annals of Plastic Surgery.

Researchers from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center based the study on 3,527 Swedish women who had cosmetic breast enlargement surgery between 1965 and 1993. They examined death certificates and analyzed the causes of death among the women.

Only 24 had committed suicide after an average period of 19 years, but this worked out to triple the risk when compared to the general population, they reported. The increased risk of suicide was not apparent until about 10 years after the operation.

Deaths related to mental disorders, including drug and alcohol dependence, were also three times higher in women who had their breasts enlarged.

However, the report found no increased risk from cancer, including breast cancer. Women with implants were more likely to die of lung cancer and respiratory diseases, like emphysema. Researchers attributed this to the fact that the women were more likely to smoke.

While the report did not look into possible reasons behind the suicides, senior author and professor of medicine at the Vanderbilt Joseph McLaughlin, says that he believes that many of the women had psychological problems before receiving the surgery; the implants simply failed to improve their condition.

This is just the latest in a long line of reports that have detected higher suicide rates in women with breast implants. Last year, Canadian scientists also found an increased risk of suicide in women with implants.

In 2006, 383,886 women had breast augmentation in the U.S., according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The operation is the second most common cosmetic surgery after liposuction…

Okay guys, I’m not really sure what this means but I’m pretty sure it can’t be good.

Maybe we men shouldn’t put so much of an emphasis on the size of a women’s bust. Or maybe the media is to blame for it’s depiction of women. I mean hey, I love boobies as much as the next guy, but it doesn’t make or break a girl for me.

Small breasted women of America, you’re still beautiful. Don’t get surgery expecting it to cure all your insecurities; that takes a much longer, intricate procedure that you must do for yourself.

Technorati Tags: Breast Implants, Suicide, Vanderbilt University, Annals of Plastic Surgery, Joseph McLaughlin