Reasons vary as to why a woman would want breast augmentation surgery, but no matter the reason, women have to be honest with themselves about why they want the procedure and what they expect to gain. Without a deep examination of your motives, you could be setting yourself up for disappointment.

Typical Reasons

The simple reason women want to get a breast augmentation is that they are dissatisfied with their breast size, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Augmentation makes breasts bigger and fuller. Some women want breast augmentation to improve the balance of their figure or to enhance their self-image. Other women want the surgery to restore breast volume after pregnancy or weight loss. Women also get implants to reconstruct their breast or breasts after a mastectomy.

History

Women started getting breast implants in growing numbers in 1962, when doctors discovered silicone for this use. Before that, some doctors attempted the procedure by placing foam or other materials into the breast. After complaints about silicone possibly leaking into the brain and nervous system, and the fear that it contributed to cancer, arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases, silicone was banned in the U.S. in 1992. But in 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved silicone implants made by two companies for women 22 and older or for women undergoing breast reconstruction surgery.

During the silicone ban years, doctors began using saline implants, but people complained that saline is not as natural in texture or appearance.

Good and Bad Reasons

Good and bad reasons exist for getting any type of cosmetic surgery, including breast augmentation, according to WomensHealth.gov. You are a good candidate for surgery if you already have a strong self-image but just want to improve the way your breasts look. You are also a good candidate if you have a physical flaw or defect that you want fixed. A bad reason to get your breasts done is if you do it in the hopes of influencing someone’s behavior, such as thinking that once you have a breast augmentation, your boyfriend will marry you.

Divorce

Some women want a breast augmentation when they are going through a divorce, which is not a good time to have this procedure, according to WomensHealth.gov. Some women think that a breast augmentation will help them deal with the pain of divorce. In reality, a change in appearance cannot do that. Deal with the crisis first, and then you may be a good candidate for the surgery.

Control

A 2003 Finnish study, published in the “Annals of Plastic Surgery” concluded that women who get breast implants are three times more likely to commit suicide than are women who do not get implants. Researchers can only speculate as to the reason.

Paul Joffe, head of suicide prevention at the University of Illinois, notes that some women with suicidal tendencies are drawn to getting breast implants. This control over their bodies may be a way for suicidal woman to gain some power over their own fate. Frequently, people who entertain suicide are obsessed by controlling their bodies, Joffe notes.