PIP breast implants pose no significant long-term health risk for women

London - The gel materials used in PIP breast implant are not toxic or carciogenic and do not present a long-term health risk to women, according to a new research.

However, they do remain twice as likely as other forms of implants to rupture.

The analysis, by the NHS Medical Directors expert group, is likely to be a welcome relief for an estimated 47,000 women who are believed to have been given the implants, manufactured by French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP).

They were filled with non-medical grade silicone intended for use in mattresses and have been linked to rupture and swelling in the body.

The latest data from the Department of Health showed that almost 750 women are to have the implants removed on the NHS - 490 of whom had their PIP implants put in at private clinics.

Others are believed to have had their implants removed privately.

The NHS Medical Directors expert group, led by NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, has now found the materials used in them are not toxic or carciogenic.

In the final report on the implants, experts concluded the chemical does not present a health risk.

If a PIP implant does rupture, it was found to cause local reactions in a small proportion of women, which can result in symptoms such as tenderness or swollen lymph glands.

The implants do, however, have a 15 to 30 per cent chance of rupturing after ten years, compared with a 10 to 14 per cent rupture rate in the same timeframe for other breast implant brands.

The implants contain the chemical compound siloxane, which is chemically similar to silicone and is found in many consumer products including hair and skin products and antiperspirants and deodorants.

“This has been an incredibly worrying time for women. We have been determined to look thoroughly at all available evidence so we are able to give them the best clinical advice possible,” the Telegraph quoted Prof Keogh as saying.

“Repeated tests on different batches of PIP implants have been carried out in the UK, France and Australia according to international standards. Those tests have shown that the implants are not toxic and therefore we do not believe they are a threat to the long-term health of women who have PIP implants.

“We have, however, found that these implants are substandard when compared to other implants, and that they are more likely to rupture.

“We would therefore advise that women who have symptoms of a rupture - for example tenderness, soreness or lumpiness - should speak to their surgeon or GP. I would ask all GPs to refer any patient who has concerns about their PIP implants to a specialist.

“I sincerely hope this helps to reassure women that their long- term health is not at risk,” he stated.