It is easy to find out what the physical risks of breast augmentation are, but there is very little information on the emotional risks. Though no one will sit down and warn you about it, you should know that breast augmentation has the potential to take a serious emotional toll on you.

Several studies have linked breast augmentation with an elevated risk of suicide. Women who have breast augmentation are three times more likely to commit suicide than women who don’t. This is not to say that breast augmentation causes suicide, rather, it is more likely that women who undergo breast augmentation surgery are more likely to be depressed and have low-self esteem to begin with. When breast augmentation doesn’t make them look and feel as good as they thought it would, they can become fatally depressed.

Closely related to depression is anxiety. Surgeons may say that breast implants can be removed if you are unhappy with them, but in all reality, breast augmentation is irreversible. Second guessing the decision is not uncommon, particularly when women have undergone obvious enlargement, and anxiety can mount when they realize the relative permanency of what they have done.

Many women have reported anxiety and depression as a result of the unwanted attention caused by their larger breasts. Men seem to be paying more attention, not to them, but to their breasts. They may find it difficult to get anyone to take them seriously or to be willing to have a lasting relationship with them. Additionally, stress can be caused by negative reactions by members of both sexes.

Some women come out of breast augmentation surgery perfectly happy with their new breasts only to discover that they are quite unhappy with another part of their body. The problem here is poor self esteem, and no amount of cosmetic surgery can fix this. Usually women for whom this is a problem find that they are just as unhappy after surgery as they were before.

One thing to bear in mind when considering the emotional risks of breast augmentation is how it will affect your loved ones. While you should never have surgery to please anyone but yourself, sometimes it can be a wise idea to not have surgery when others ask you not to. Sometimes a woman in an established relationship will have breast augmentation surgery and alienate her significant other who was perfectly happy with her appearance. It is not uncommon for a relationship to end because of one partner’s dissatisfaction with breast augmentation.

Breast augmentation is a highly personal decision, and it may be the right one for you. To be sure you’re making the right decision, consider all the advantages and all the risks, including the emotional risks for you and your loved ones.

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