August’s issue of the Annals of Plastic Surgery includes a study which points to a possible link between breast implants and an increased suicide risk. According to the study, women who had breast implants had a three-fold risk of dying from suicide, alcoholism and drug use. Over an eight-year period, 3,527 Swedish women who had breast implants were monitored. Of that number, 175 of the women died by suicide-related means.

The researchers noted that there were no major suicide deaths in the first 10 years after the procedure. However, after 20 years there was a six times higher risk when compared with suicide risks over all.

The researchers recommend psychiatric evaluation of patients prior to breast augmentation procedures and follow-up assessments after the procedures.