Are your Breast Implants a timebomb? The explosive truth about PIP implants

Already had a Breast Enlargement? Or perhaps you’ve been researching getting one? Either way, you’ve probably heard the recent scandal about PIP exploding implants. But how seriously did you take it?

PIP (Poly Implant Prothese) Implants are simply the name of a brand. They are French and, for the past 20 years, have been very popular as a low-cost implant option favoured by big Cosmetic Surgery chains.

Many BAAPS members, however (the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons i.e. the Board who all registered surgeons should belong to) always disliked them.

It is now estimated that between 50 -100,000 British women have had PIP implants. This figure is extremely worrying as new test results from the AFSSAPS (the French Competence Authority) has now found that:

PIP implants have an exceptionally high rupture rate
The shells of PIP implants are unusually fragile
Genotoxicity in patients with PIP implants cannot be ruled out.

Put simply, PIP implants did not have the tough, multi-layers of shell which modern breast implants now require. With just one single layer, they are incredibly fragile.

To make matters far worse, the silicone used in PIP implants is not of an acceptable quality for breast implants. In fact, as Stephanie Guler of WhereismyDoctor reports, PIP silicone gel is really intended for mattress and pillow production!

The high volume of this gel in such a fragile layer of casing made the implants very prone to rupture. PIP implants are notorious for, essentially, exploding. When the implants do leak, states BAAPS, inflammatory reactions can occur in patients. This is a form of irritation which does not occur with leakage incidents from other types of modern breast implants.

There is also a scarily inconclusive possibility that the gel could effect the DNA of cells; further tests are still being done on mice. Even without any rupturing, however, BAAPS reports problems caused by PIP implants such as fever (sweating) and rashes.

Taking notice yet? Warnings about PIP implants were issued over a year ago, but many women are still feared to not be taking the issue seriously enough. BAAPS has made an official statement that:

“The BAAPS continues to recommend that women whove undergone breast augmentation contact their surgeons to find out what type of implant was used. If it’s PIP they should have an ultrasound in the next six months to establish whether there is any weakening or rupture. Removal of both implants is recommended in these cases.”

As Guler points out, however, only the PIP brand are to blame for this unfortunate situation. Doctors and patients had no way of knowing the dangers of their product because of the company’s false reports.

At Aurora Clinics, we do not use PIP products. We are more than happy to talk to any past patients who have concerns about their implants and to advise them on the best way forward for them.

For patients considering Breast Augmentation surgery, free consultations can be arranged on 01324 578290 and our expert Surgeons will talk you through all your Breast Implant concerns.