PIP implants: there are still unanswered questions

“It would be disingenuous to pretend women are in a much better place a year on,” say surgeons.

01 February 2013 (Last updated: 27 Mar 2019 12:56)

London - 1 February, 2013 - The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (www.baaps.org.uk ), today welcomes the Department of Health's toxicology report into faulty PIP implants but warns that many questions remain unanswered. The BAAPS, the only organisation based at the Royal College of Surgeons exclusively dedicated to aesthetic (‘cosmetic’) surgery, says that what studies show, and what surgeons and patients are experiencing, still differs.

According to consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS President Rajiv Grover;

“Whilst we're pleased that toxicology reports continue to show no long-term health implications, and we praise the MHRA for conducting more thorough research; what studies show still differs from what we, as surgeons, are seeing and patients are experiencing. We understand that tests have been conducted on many batches of implants taken off-the-shelf, but it would also be advantageous to examine samples taken ‘in vivo’ and know what impact body temperature and conditions have upon these devices. At the BAAPS we remain steadfast in the advice we have been giving all along: PIPs are defective, and have no place within the human body.”

Rajiv continues;

“It would be disingenuous to pretend that women who had, or still have, these implants are in a much better place more than a year on from this scandal. The PIP crisis has uncovered serious issues stemming from the lack of regulation within the cosmetic surgery sector - many of which we had warned the public about over the years, such as aggressive marketing leading to the trivialisation of surgical procedures and a lack of clarity into what exactly can be defined as a ‘cosmetic surgeon’.

Although obviously there will never be a way of preventing criminal behaviour, the current situation must give surgeons, clinics, insurers and the Government pause; a chance to reflect on what went wrong, how it could happen for so long and what can be done to help victims and protect future patients. With the results of the Government’s inquiry due in the Spring, we hope that 2013 will be a real turning point for the sector. In the meantime, at the BAAPS we have been spearheading a new insurance scheme so that people undergoing cosmetic surgery over the coming years can have peace of mind that, should there ever be a repeat of this debacle, they will be covered financially. It’s time to scrub up and take action to restore public confidence.”

 

ENDS

The BAAPS (www.baaps.org.uk), based at the Royal College of Surgeons, is a not-for-profit organisation, established for the advancement of education and practice of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit. Members undergo thorough background screening before they can join. Information about specific procedures and surgeons’ contact details can be found on the website, or by contacting their office at 020 7430 1840. Further materials can be posted to members of the public seeking specialised information. BAAPS is also on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BAAPSMedia and Facebook: www.facebook.com/BritishAssociationofAestheticPlasticSurgeons

For all media enquiries, please contact pr@baaps.org.uk

 

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