Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
Concerns Over Safety of PIP Breast Implants
21st December 2011
Around 40,000 women in the UK have PIP (Poly Implant Prostheses) breast implants, which are the subject of renewed safety concerns.. These low-cost implants were found to have an increased risk of rupture or leakage and concerns have now been raised about possible links with cancer.
Fears Over Potentially Faulty Implants
The marketing and use of silicone implants manufactured by the French company PIP was banned in March 2010, as the type of silicone used had not been approved and was not dedicated for medical use. There have also been reports that the protective coating of the implants is faulty.
French studies suggest rupture rates of around 10% within the first 5 years after implantation where silicone has leaked from the implant (approximately 11%). If the gel leaks into the body it can act as an irritant and causes inflammatory reactions in some patients.
There are now additional concerns that PIP implants could have links with cancer, following a small number of cancer cases among women with the implants and the death of one woman from a rare form of cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
As yet however, there is insufficient evidence to support any link between PIP implants and cancer.
UK Patients
The MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency), the regulatory body for the UK, have conducted their own tests. These show no evidence of chemical toxicity or genotoxicity (the potential for causing cancer). This is in agreement with a statement made by the French medical device regulatory authority, AFSSAPS.
At present the advice from the MHRA to any women who have concerns or questions about their PIP implants, or any other implants, is to seek advice from their surgeon.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) is recommending that anyone with PIP implants should have an ultrasound scan every 6 months and that if a scan shows a leak or rupture, the implants should be removed. This is in line with the views of the French Authorities.
We support the more vigorous approach of BAAPS to safeguarding those with PIP implants and would urge the MHRA to revise their advice to take a similar line.
Legal Advice
If you have suffered problems following cosmetic surgery, caused by a defective medical implant or by clinical negligence, we may be able to assist you with a compensation claim.
At The Legal Line our lawyers are experts in all areas of personal injury and we can provide you with the best possible legal advice on a confidential basis. Contact us on 0800 0328511, or by completing a claim enquiry form online.
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