Suicide Risk IS Decreased By Breast Augmentation!

New analysis shows that actual suicide rates may be lower than expected among women who undergo breast augmentation, and that the procedure may actually confer protection from suicide, according to Thomas Joiner, PhD, Professor of Psychology and a leading expert on suicide.

Suicide Risk IS Decreased By
Breast Augmentation!

New analysis shows that actual suicide rates may be lower than expected among women who undergo breast augmentation, and that the procedure may actually confer protection from suicide, according to Thomas Joiner, PhD, Professor of Psychology and a leading expert on suicide.

The essential point is that for reasons having nothing to do with breast augmentation, women who undergo the procedure are at greater risk for suicide," says Dr. Sam Speron, breast augmentation expert and consumer advocate. The reason for this is because there are known variables that represent risk factors for suicide - race, age, marital and smoking status, alcohol use to name a few. In these characteristics, breast augmentation patients differ from the general population of women. Although these differences are small, when small differences on key variables are combined, they can produce substantial differences in suicide rates." In other words, for reasons having nothing to do with breast augmentation, the subgroup of women who choose to undergo the procedure should have a relatively high suicide rate (because their demographic and other characteristics put them at greater risk)."

"It turns out that the expected rate of suicide in breast augmentation patients should exceed the rate in the general population of women by 4-fold, but the actual suicide rate among these patients is lower than expected. Therefore, the possibility arises that breast augmentation actually confers protection from suicide, presumably by increasing self-esteem and body image satisfaction."

Dr. Joiner's analysis appears to provide a new perspective on recent studies claiming a higher rate of suicide in women who have undergone breast augmentation," says Dr Sam Speron. "In addition, it is important to note that no study has indicated a causal relationship between breast implants and suicide. The vast majority of breast augmentation patients report high satisfaction with the procedure along with an increase in body image satisfaction. What the suicide studies may suggest is the possibility that a small percentage of women who seek cosmetic breast surgery have psychological issues that we should know about. Sometimes, psychological issues cannot be addressed by making improvements in their body image. Clearly this is an area that raises important questions that need further research."

Sam Speron is widely recognized as a leading expert on plastic surgery. Dr. Sperons educational efforts have received critical acclaim from the media from around the country including national TV (MD TV), local TV (multiple CBS Channel 2 10PM special reports, multiple appearances on This week with Dr. Breen"), national radio (The Paul Harvey show" on WGN radio), local radio (The Joe Gentile Show" on WJJG on AM-1530), newspapers (Chicago Tribune, Crains Chicago Business, Daily Herald) and magazines (Complete Woman, Chicago Magazine, Living Life, Medical Economics, The Lutheran).

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