Every Breast Implant Operation in England to be recorded on a new Register

BAAPS welcomed a clampdown on unethical advertising, as well as news from the Department of Health that an official breast implant register is to be piloted

Implant register welcomed but must be compulsory

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons welcomed a clampdown on unethical advertising, as well as news from the Department of Health that an official breast implant register is to be piloted. After the dissolution of the original database over seven years ago, the BAAPS has campaigned to have a compulsory system reinstated – particularly since the PIP implant crisis, which saw over 40,000 women in the UK fitted with defective medical devices.

Rajiv Grover, BAAPS President, consultant plastic surgeon, says:

Every Breast Implant Operation in England to be recorded on a new Register
Textured and silicone gel breast implants

At the BAAPS we have been very vocal in our concerns over the tone of aggressive marketing that has been allowed to proliferate unchecked over the last decade, particularly unethical deals and prizes that trivialise life-changing treatment. Whilst we’re pleased there is to be a clampdown on time-linked incentives that place undue pressure on the public, we continue to call for an outright ban on all advertising of medical procedures. People considering cosmetic surgery have a lot to think about: possible risks, their own expectations, the qualifications of the provider, recovery – whether there’s a Christmas sale, a two-for-one if they book by Friday or get Nectar points should never play a part in a sensible decision-making process.”

We are thoroughly relieved that the Government has seen the light in terms of the importance of reinstating the implant register – but the system must be made compulsory, otherwise it is a waste of time. Whilst independent consultants and many reputable groups were able to easily contact their patients during the PIP implant crisis, the scandal shone a light on shoddy recordkeeping from many corners of the sector; with women being given the wrong or no information at all in regards to what had been placed within their bodies. A centralised and comprehensive database is well overdue and essential for the public’s safety and peace of mind. We also call upon the Government to utilise proceeds from such a register for scientific research purposes, specifically into implant safety projects: it is no less than the hundreds of thousands of women undergoing breast surgery deserve.”

Based at the Royal College of Surgeons, the BAAPS is a not-for-profit organisation, established for the advancement of education and practice of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit. The BAAPS has also long campaigned for UK-based or equivalent professional indemnity insurance to be compulsory for all surgeons practising in Britain. Members undergo thorough background screening before they can join. Information about specific procedures and surgeons’ contact details can be found on their web site, or by contacting their advice line at 020 7405 2234. Further materials can be posted to members of the public seeking specialised information. BAAPS is also on Twitter and Facebook. For all media enquiries, please email Tingy Simoes.

Sources: Sign me uplift, BAAPS Press release, 29 Dec 2013.

Related press coverage:

Breast Cancer Detection and Survival among Women with Cosmetic Breast Implants

Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Breast cancer detection and survival among women with cosmetic breast implants: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
British Medical Journal aims to lead the debate on health, and to engage doctors, researchers and health professionals to improve outcomes for patients

Abstract:
Objectives:
To evaluate whether the stage distribution among women diagnosed as having breast cancer differs between those who have received breast implants for cosmetic purposes and those with no implants and to evaluate whether cosmetic breast augmentation before the detection of breast cancer is a predictor of post-diagnosis survival.

Design:
Systematic review of observational studies with two meta-analyses.

Data sources:
Systematic search of the literature published before September 2012 conducted in Medline, Embase, Global health, CINAHL, IPAB, and PsycINFO.

Study selection Eligible publications were those that included women diagnosed as having breast cancer and who had had augmentation mammaplasty for cosmetic purposes.

Results:
The overall odds ratio of the first meta-analysis based on 12 studies was 1.26 (95% confidence interval 0.99 to 1.60; P=0.058; I2=35.6%) for a non-localized stage of breast cancer at diagnosis comparing women with implants who had breast cancer and women without implants who had breast cancer. The second meta-analysis, based on five studies, evaluated the relation between cosmetic breast implantation and survival. This meta-analysis showed reduced survival after breast cancer among women who had implants compared with those who did not (overall hazard ratio for breast cancer specific mortality 1.38, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.75).

Conclusions:
The research published to date suggests that cosmetic breast augmentation adversely affects the survival of women who are subsequently diagnosed as having breast cancer. These findings should be interpreted with caution, as some studies included in the meta-analysis on survival did not adjust for potential confounders. Further investigations are warranted regarding diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer among women with breast implants.

Sources and full report: Breast cancer detection and survival among women with cosmetic breast implants: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies, BMJ 2013; 346:f2399

Breast Cancer reconstructive Surgery

No Easy Choices on Breast Reconstruction

No Easy Choices on Breast Reconstruction
The choices to be made in breast construction, or whether to have it at all, are highly individual

While a recent article by Angelina Jolie about her mastectomy and reconstruction raised awareness, it may have left the impression that the surgeries are quick and easy procedures, some doctors fear… For more info about:

  • Types of Reconstruction
  • Simulating a Nipple
  • Bearing the Costs
  • Uncertain Results

Read: No Easy Choices on Breast Reconstruction
by Roni Caryn Rabin, TheNewYorkTimes, 20 May 2013

PIP and Pregnancy: faulty Breast Implants could affect Foetus Development

Experts dispute conclusion of PIP breast implant scandal investigation

PIP breast implant campaigners question findings of independent report
Faulty PIP implants may pose pregnancy risk

The PIP faulty breast implants that were fraudulently filled with industrial-grade silicone may have caused their recipients harm, claim environmental scientists via the Royal Society of Medicine. The experts are particularly concerned about a chemical in the silicone filling that has been identified as an endocrine-disruptor – a substance that could potentially have an effect on the development of a foetus in the womb.

Find out more:

Breast Implants are increasing the Cancer Death Risk by 38%

Breast cancer detection and survival among women with cosmetic breast implants: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

silicone-gel-breast-implant image
Cosmetic breast augmentation has become increasingly popular

Women who have breast implants and go on to have breast cancer have a 38% higher risk of dying from the disease than women who do not have implants, a new study suggests. The study  also found that women with cosmetic breast implants had a 26% increased risk of being diagnosed at a later stage of cancer than women without implants.

Read Breast Implants ‘Raise Cancer Death Risk’, Study Suggests
The Huffington Post UK,  1 May 2013

Sources: Breast cancer detection and survival among women with cosmetic breast implants: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies – BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 30 April 2013

British Woman could be first to have died of Cancer caused by ruptured PIP Breast Implant

At least 47,000 women in the UK have had the same breast implants fitted

British woman could be first to have died of cancer caused by ruptured PIP breast implant International health authorities need to step up to the plate and put women’s health first !!!!

A healthy young mum of two who had controversial PIP breast implants has died from a rare and aggressive cancer.

Susan Grieve, 40, lost her battle against lymphoma last month.

Today her family tell the Sunday Mirror why they believe the disease was caused by the French implants she had fitted in 2006… and how they are planning to fight for justice for other PIP patients in Susan’s memory after making a promise to her on her deathbed.

Read British woman could be first to have died of cancer caused by ruptured PIP breast implant, The Mirror,  1 JUL 2012.

Prothèses PIP : les autorités savaient

En octobre 2009, 14 ruptures PIP sont constatées

Prothèses PIP : les autorités savaientL’Agence de sécurité du médicament collectionne les ratés: Mediator, di-Antalvic, cérivastatine, distilbène… tous ont tardé à être retirés du marché malgré les signaux envoyés.

Lisez: Prothèses PIP : les autorités savaient,
Le Petit Bleu – santé, 07/01/2012.

PIP Inquiry rejects DES Story

In summary, by its actions and inactions, the TGA has stymied the availability of data to the Department of Health and Ageing in relation to the magnitude of the DES problem in Australia

PIP Inquiry Rejects DES StoryGreat disappointment from Down Under! Australian Senate PIP Inquiry rejects DES story’s correlation to PIP breast implant scandal … This is tragic for PIP recipients and all other victims of drug/medical device disasters. Kudos to DES Activist Carol Devine for making a submission about the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) mismanagement of the DES drug disaster and how this correlates to the TGA’s current handling of the PIP scandal. It’s so disheartening for DES Activists all over the world … What will it take for the DES story to be heard and its lessons to be learned …?????

Read PIP Inquiry Rejects DES Story.

More DES DiEthylStilbestrol Resources

Lessons must be learned

Pips breast implant scandal: Regulator warned years earlier.

A Health Minister review saying that “Lessons must be learned” … I’ve heard that before yet lessons are not learned and history is repeating itself over, and over again …

Read Pips breast implant scandal: Regulator warned years earlier.
The Telegraph, 15 May 2012.

The lack of transatlantic communication

INSIGHT-In PIP implant Scandal

INSIGHT-In PIP implant scandal, a ragged safety net exposedThe lack of transatlantic communication is just one problem highlighted by the PIP Breast Implant scandal

Really? Nothing new then! … back in 1971 the FDA issued a warning about DES for pregnant women … in France Distilbene continued to be prescribed to pregnant women until 1977! … Now with the PIP scandal, France reacted 10 years after the FDA … !!!! This is just insane and shocking! When will they learn? Read the post ” INSIGHT-In PIP implant scandal, a ragged safety net exposed “.