Dr Ayham Al-Ayoubi of The London Medical and Aesthetic Clinic at 1 Harley Street points out that ‘It is hugely unethical that some of the country’s largest clinics will not remove these implants; I am also surprised that such large organisations seem to be unsure of what products were used for which patients’.
Breast Augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the UK. Our leading experts Consultants breast Surgeons can help our patients to achieve the shape and results they desire.
Who are PIP?
PIP (Poly Implants Prostheses) was a company operating out of France from 1996 which was licensed to make breast implants from medical silicone.
What is wrong with their implants?
Problems were found with PIP implants as early as 2000 when eleven deviations of ‘good manufacturing practices’ were discovered at their factory. At this time PIP recalled all of its hydrogel implants which were withdrawn from the market. However the real problem began in 2001 when PIP began using industrial silicone in their implants and dispensed with th protective shell, which meant that the implants were far more likely to rupture.
What should I do if I think I have had PIP implants?
The French government are currently advising all women who have had PIP implants to have them removed and women in the UK are advised to contact that clinic or hospital who performed their breast augmentation procedure.
What side effects or symptoms am I likely to have?
If your implants have ruptured you are likely to experience hardening of the breast tissue and you are likely to feel lumps of silicone in the arm pit. Many women also experience pain in their breasts, usually a dull ache or burning pain in one or both breasts. This pain is due to the irritant nature of the industrial grade silicone.
Can PIP implants cause cancer?
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is satisfied that PIP implants do not cause cancer, going as far as saying ‘there is no evidence of an association’ (between cancer and PIP implants).
I have breastfed my child with PIP implants, is the likely to have caused my child any harm?
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have looked into this issue in depth and have concluded that PIP implants do not harm babies.
Did my surgeon know that these implants were substandard?
Absolutely not. The implants were quality marked for sale in Europe because PIP began manufacturing them using medical grade silicone, so you can rest assured that your surgeon used them in good faith.
