23 DECEMBER 2011

The Ministry of Health has announced that PIP breast implants removals should be proposed to patients, as a preventive measure, and « even without signs of clinical deterioration of the implants » while patients who do no wish to undergo removal surgery should benefit from breast imagery every six months, according to the Ministry's communication.

Based on three national health experts bodies reports, the National Cancer Institute, The National Information Health-Watch Center, and the National  Drug Authorization Center, the Ministry of Health recommends that patients should verify the implants trade mark written on a post-surgery card given to them, or contact their surgeon or the clinic where the operation took place so as to identify the implants. Although the experts panel indicate that « to date, the risk of cancer is not higher for female patients implanted with PIP compared with other implants« there are  « well established risks associated with the ruptures of PIP implants » and itch caused by the gel which may lead to inflammatory reaction and render explanting difficult.
      
Any suspicion of rupture, or any rupture, must lead to removing the implant concerned as well as the other implant and breast imagery must be done and compared with previous similar scans. From January, a hotline will help patients with PIP implants with a health centers contact list « for women who have been unable to get an appointment with a specialist » according to the Health Ministry.  Explantations are reimbursed by social security and for post-cancer treatment patients, new implants are also paid by social security.