By: Andrew Goldberg, MD, and Mitchel Krieger, MD

There is a huge amount of misinformation and half truths on the Web these days. You might have heard claims that breast augmentation can “cure” depression, or even that it could cause depression. I get a little frustrated when I see so much misinformation floating around, so I just want to take a minute to address these two issues based on what the current research tells us.

It’s important to note that when I say “depression,” I’m talking about clinical depression and not just a “bad day” before your breasts have healed, where you wonder if you made the right choice.

Question: Does Breast Augmentation Cause Depression?

Answer: No.

A few studies recently made headlines when they suggested that women with breast implants tend to have a higher than average incidence of depression. While on the surface this may seem like a major concern, in fact the most recent research suggests that this phenomenon occurs because people who are depressed in the first place are slightly more likely to seek out cosmetic breast surgery. This of course does not mean that all or even most women who are considering breast enhancement are clinically depressed. And there is no evidence that breast augmentation itself contributes to symptoms of depression.

Question: Does Breast Augmentation Cure Depression?

Answer: No.

Research tells us that many breast augmentation patients feel sexier and happier with their bodies after breast augmentation surgery, and it’s definitely helped many of my patients feel “more like themselves,” but cosmetic surgery in Virginia is never a cure for clinical depression or severe body image issues.

Key point: Virginia breast augmentation – or any cosmetic surgery – can have a dramatic impact on a woman’s outlook and self image, but it’s simply not an appropriate way to address depression. I’ve seen plastic surgery do amazing things, but as with anything else in life, it’s valuable because of what you bring to the table in the first place, and what you choose to make of your results.

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