The French government have recommended that women who have received a faulty breast implant made by the French firm Poly Implant Prothese have them removed as a precautionary measure.
The French government have confirmed that they will cover the cost of the removal for the estimated 30,000 women in France who have received the implant. They will also pay for sixmonthly ultrasound scans for those who choose not to have them removed.
However, there is an estimated 40,000 women in the UK who have received the French made implant, and the UK government have stated that there is no evidence of a safety concern. As such, they have ruled out the need for routine removal.
The implants were made with non-medical grade silicone which means that they have a higher chance of splitting. In France the rupture rate for these implants is close to 5%, whilst in the UK it is around 1%. No other country has reported an increase in rupture rates.
Testing on the implants have not revealed an increased of risk of toxicity and there is no known link to an increase in the risk of breast cancer. However, the gel inside an implant can cause irritation and inflammation and is more difficult to remove if the implant ruptures.
Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for the UK, pointed out that no other countries have taken similar steps to France and that women should not be ‘unduly worried.’ She added: “We have no evidence of a link to cancer or an increased risk of rupture. If women are concerned they should speak to their surgeon.”
