Researchers Review Pros and Cons of Plastic Surgery

Most of us who are in the process of trying to lose weight are looking to improve our appearance and boost our self-confidence. Of course, eating right and working out are the best way to shed excess pounds and shape up, but sometimes, you need a bit of extra help to help the process along.

Many men and women who are dieting or who have already reached the end of their weight loss journey seek out the services of cosmetic surgeons. Skillful plastic surgery can virtually turn back time, helping you return your face and body to the way they looked before age -- and weight -- intervened.

However, despite the popularity of plastic and cosmetic surgery, some recent studies have called into question the safety and effectiveness of some of these procedures. Considering the skyrocketing demand for plastic surgery, researchers around the world are focusing on the issue, attempting to identify problem areas and devise safer surgical techniques. This week, we?ll review the results of several recent studies that have weighed the positive and negative outcomes of plastic surgery.

Plastic Surgery May Help Ease Depression in Some Patients

Many patients who have undergone plastic or cosmetic surgery have attested to these procedures? ability to boost mood, attitude, and self-confidence, but the results of one recent study indicate that these widespread beliefs might actually have scientific credibility. According to the findings of a research project that were presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery conference in San Francisco, some types of plastic surgery may actually help to alleviate mild to moderate depression.

The study analyzed the pre- and post-surgery depression of a sample of 362 patients. Before plastic surgery, 61% of the sample reported taking prescription anti-depressants. However, follow-up data reported that only 32% continued taking the drugs after their plastic surgery. This indicates that the surgery may have decreased the incidence of treatable by depression by as much as half. 98% of the respondent indicated that the procedure had dramatically boosted their self-esteem.

The scientists point out that it would be wrong to infer that the surgery actually ?cured? the patients? depression. However, a combination of factors ? including the sense of proactive control involved in taking steps to address a perceived flaw ? indicates that some sort of causal relationship may exist for some patients.

Women with Breast Implants at Higher Risk for Suicide

Based on the conventional wisdom surrounding breast augmentation, one would think that the boost in self-confidence that comes with the procedure would decrease the risk of suicide among women who had undergone the operation. However, according to the results of a study conducted by scientists at the Canadian Public Health Agency and Cancer Care Ontario, women with breast implants actually stand a greater chance of committing suicide than their counterparts without breast implants.

The scientists studied health data from nearly 25,000 women who had undergone breast implant surgery over a 25-year period. They found that the overall mortality rate of women with breast implants was virtually indistinguishable from the larger group of women as a whole. However, women with breast implants were 73% more likely to commit suicide than women in the general population.

Although the reasons behind this phenomenon are not yet clear, the researchers hypothesized that it may have something to do with the self-esteem and self-confidence issues that prompted the women to seek out breast implants in the first place. They called on the scientific community to research this issue further.

Obese Patients Undergoing Breast Reconstruction Face Unique Risks

When women with breast cancer undergo a mastectomy, some opt for the procedure known as ?breast reconstruction,? which rebuilds the breast mass lost in mastectomy and offers a more natural look. However, the results of a recent study conducted by scientists at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center indicate that this procedure may not be safe for women who are obese or significantly overweight.

Women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 35 experienced significantly more complications than their counterparts at normal body weights. For women with BMIs that approached or exceeded 40, nearly 100% of patients experienced some type of post-surgery complication. The authors suggested that some patients may want to lose weight before undergoing breast reconstruction.

If you?re considering plastic surgery, talk to a licensed practitioner to determine the right kind of procedure. Please be sure to check back each week for more of the diet and weight loss news you need.