PIP IMPLANTS: REAL RUPTURE RATE REVEALED

As Surgeon Starts Removing PIPs, Hidden Truth Becomes Clear

Mr. Adrian Richards of Aurora Clinics (Buckinghamshire and Northampton, UK) is starting to see the true picture of the PIP implants rupture situation. As the multitude of PIP patients progress from consultation to surgery, Mr Richards is able to comment on the actual state of the PIP implants he is removing.

During packed removal and replacement surgery clinics, Mr. Richards has now removed 10 sets of PIP implants from some of the many women coming forward for his help.

The results he has so far found are alarming:

• 3 out of the 10 women had ruptured PIP implants: their implants had ruptured completely and the industrial-grade silicone was leaking into their bodies.
• 6 out of 10 sets of PIPs seemed intact but actually had ‘gel-bleed’ where the substandard silicone had diffused through the intact but flimsy outer shell of the implant. Mr. Richards explains that, with PIPs, this gel-bleed occurs because whereas top-quality breast implants (like Nagor or Allergan) are dipped several times in medical grade silicone to create a strong outer lining, this process was skimped with PIPs so the gel inside could easily leak out. This creates as much risk as the ‘silent rupture rate’. The high numbers (6/10) experiencing this suggest – at this early stage – a potentially serious situation.
• Only 1 woman out of the 10 that Mr. Richards has so far operated on turned out to have completely intact PIP implants with no gel-bleed.

Aurora Clinics have never used PIP implants themselves: these women all had PIP implants placed by other surgeons or cosmetic groups. But these PIP patients either experienced no luck getting help with removal surgery from their original providers or now feel such complete distrust for them that they refuse to go back.

With BAAPS' (British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) advice to remove PIP implants before they get chance to rupture and the Government acknowledging ‘anxiety’ (caused by knowing the PIP implant brand contains sub-standard industrial grade silicone, unusually fragile outer shells and has the potential to cause a range of side effects) as sufficient reason for removal, many ladies are opting for replacement surgery and seeking the best surgeon for the job.

Mr. Adrian Richards is keeping stringent records of the serial numbers of the PIP implants which he is removing. He has already started to notice patterns between the dates ladies had their implants, serial numbers and the rupture or gel-bleed rate but it is very early days and he hopes to develop these theories further. Mr. Richards is now encouraging all the other Aurora Clinics plastic surgeons – and other surgeons offering PIP implant removal and replacement – to do the same. It is hoped that this will help research into PIP implants rupture rates and the implications for other patients.

If you are interested in discussing these issues further or are a patient considering PIP implant removal and replacement, please do not hesitate to contact Aurora Clinics on 0800 328 5743 or info@aurora-clinics.co.uk

Aurora Clinics are an expert group of Plastic Surgeons, medical aestheticians and anaesthetists specialising in a broad range of cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures (surgical and non-surgical). The Aurora emphasis is on honesty and openness, with information made publicly available via videos, podcasts, photo galleries, a highly comprehensive website and our past-patient network. We are always keen to work with the public and the Press to broaden awareness about cosmetic surgery, helping prospective patients make a fully informed choice. Visit www.aurora-clinics.co.uk for more information.

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