BAPRAS supports recommendations of the Expert Group on PIP breast implants

The Government Expert Group on PIP Implants has issued its report this afternoon, placing the safety and compassionate treatment of women with PIP breast implants as its overriding concern.

Consultant Plastic Surgeon Tim Goodacre, BAPRAS representative on the Government's Expert Panel for PIP breast implants, said:

"This has been a constructive process and we are supportive of the report's recommendations. As BAPRAS has always said, it is the needs of women with PIP implants that are our primary concern and now they have a clear path to having the implants removed.

"The review reiterated that there is no link between the implants and cancer. However, a considerable amount of data has now been gathered about rupture rates and further analysis is still to be done. This is obviously important but our overriding concern continues to be the non medical grade silicone that has been used in the PIP implants.

"Our advice remains the same: the implants should be removed and women need to return to their implanting clinic which has primary responsibility for helping them, as emphasised in the report. However, if they are not getting the support they need then the NHS will back them up and they should speak to their GP. Any women who received PIP implants for reconstructive purposes should return to the NHS for discussion and assistance.

"We are working with other members of the panel to provide clear guidance to GPs and other health professionals about how to spot the signs of breast implant rupture. Anyone who notices swelling, lumps, pain, redness or deformity in their breasts should seek help.

"We will also continue to work to ensure this situation does not happen again. BAPRAS has been recommending the development of a national, compulsory, device-based Register for all episodes of breast implantation for the last 18 months and has been liaising with peers in American and Australia about the best model to use. We look forward to the next meeting of the Expert Group so we can discuss this in more detail."