There has been much coverage in the media over the past few weeks about Poly Implant Prothese or PIP implants. It is reported that 40,000 women could have received PIP implants in the UK.

The French medical authorities are advising all women with PIP breast implants to have them removed. However, the UK government is advising women in the UK with PIP breast implants that there is no need for routine removal of the PIP implants and they only need to be removed if the implant has ruptured. The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) contradicts this. In a joint surgical statement on clinical guidance for patients, GPs and surgeons the RCS insists that all patients should have access to an assessment and be given the opportunity to have the implants removed upon request.

This conflicting advice is obviously confusing for women who have the PIP breast implants.

What to do:
If you have PIP breast implants, the first thing you should do is contact your GP, or the clinic where your surgery took place. They should arrange a scan for you which will ascertain whether your PIP implants pose an immediate risk, that is to say they are ruptured.
If your scan shows your implants are ruptured you will need to speak to the clinic where your surgery took place and discuss your options.

If your scan shows that your implants are not ruptured you will need to decide whether you want to have them removed / replaced or not.

Any woman who had their PIP implant surgery on the NHS will be able to have the implants replaced on the NHS. The government is advising private clinics to also provide free replacement implants and some clinics have announced they will do this.

Legal claims for PIP breast implants:
You may be able to make a claim for compensation for the cost of the treatment. Some women may also be able to claim compensation for any trauma they have suffered as a result of their PIP implants rupturing and also for related financial losses. At Anthony Gold we have leading clinical negligence specialists who are used to dealing with these kinds of cases. We act on a no win, no fee basis and you are entitled to 100% of any compensation you are awarded. For further information email Stephanie Prior or call her directly on 020 7940 4001.