Posted on 03/07/2003 6:52:58 AM PST by Pharmboy
LONDON (Reuters) - Women who opt for breast implants to enhance their natural assets are more likely to commit suicide, Dutch and Swedish scientists said on Thursday.
Breast enlargement is one of the most popular types of cosmetic surgery but researchers at the University Medical Center in Utrecht believe it could be linked to problems such as lack of self-esteem or poor body image.
"Our findings suggest there might be a psychological problem in some women," Veronica Koot, an epidemiologist at the center, said in an interview.
In a study of 3,521 women in Sweden who had breast augmentation surgery for cosmetic reasons between 1965 and 1993, Koot and her colleagues found a higher-than-expected suicide rate after an average 11-year follow-up.
Women who had implants following surgery for breast cancer (news - web sites) were not included in the study.
Fifteen women in the research group committed suicide, three times more than would be expected in the general population. The researchers also found an excess number of lung cancer deaths, mostly likely due to smoking.
"It is a high rate of suicide compared to the general population," she said.
The scientists suggested that cosmetic surgeons evaluate women who want breast enlargement for any signs of psychological problems.
"If women have a psychological problem and they are given breast implants they will still have that problem," said Koot, who reported the findings in the British Medical Journal.
After liposuction, breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure for women in Britain and the United States.
Nearly 250,000 women in the United States had their breasts enlarged in 2002, a substantial increase since 1997. Eyelid surgery, breast reduction and nose reshaping are also popular procedures, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
"Corellation is NOT Causation."
"Corellation is NOT Causation."
"Corellation is NOT Causation."
"Corellation is NOT Causation."
"Corellation is NOT Causation."
"Corellation is NOT Causation."
"Corellation is NOT Causation."
"Corellation is NOT Causation."
"Corellation is NOT Causation."
Now. What do the numbers look like in other countries. What other factors are involved in these women and their states of mind. Are their other disease/risk factors also involved. Ect...
Has everyone on that side of the pond tossed out the whole scientific method thing?
This kind of "junk science" is how we got Global Warming.
I'm self-centered. In fact, I have such a high-opinion of myself that I would never want to deprive the world of my existance in it.
"Be selfless" is the cry of the communist.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS "NORMAL" PLASTIC SURGERY!
And, for your benefit, you should know that no one in the article said that breast implants CAUSED suicides, only that there was an association. Think more before you act like an obnoxious pedant (note that I did not call you an obnoxious pedant, but only observed that for a brief moment you acted like one).
Best,
PB
The way I read the article, they don't seem to be implying causation. The only realtion hinted at seems to be in the psychological state of women seeking breast implants and of women committing suicide. It's like old statistics on suicides at the Golden Gate bridge. The bridge doesn't cause the suicides, but a higher than mormal number of people travelling to the bridge from across the nation are suicidal compared with the normal population. They reach the bridge and find out it's the end of their quest and, having no further goal or hope for thier lives, no place further to travel to looking for personal meaning, decide to end their lives there as well.
The devil is ALWAYS in the details.
Whatever you think about plastic surgery is your business, but don't try to get me in some semantic argument.
The premise of the study remains faulty.
A VERY interesting comment.
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