The Health Minister asked an expert group to reviewed all the available data and evidence on PIP breast implants, and they concluded as follows:

• The advice given by the MHRA The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) stands, as there is currently no evidence of any increase in incidents of breast cancer associated with these implants, and no evidence of any disproportionate rupture rates, other than in France. The expert group review of the available evidence concluded that there is no evidence to indicate an association with cancer.
  
  
• The implants are made of non-medical grade silicone and should not have been implanted, and that these women should be supported by those who performed the implantations. The expert group advise that if you have concerns to speak to you GP or implanting surgeon.
  
  
• The NHS will support the removal and replacement of implants if the original operation was done by the NHS and following clinical advice including clinical need, risk or the impact of unresolved concerns a woman with her doctor decides that it is right to do so. The group expect that the private sector will do the same.
  
  
• If the private sector clinic that implanted the PIP implants no longer exists or refuses to support the removal of the implants, the NHS will support the removal of the implants only and not the replacement.
  
  
• The expert group were unable to establish if the rupture rate is higher for PIP implants than for others, and of the PIP implants that have been tested, there is no risk of dangerous toxins leaking into the body. The expert group however will be examining the wider issues concerning quality of data, surveillance, enforcement and regulation of the sector in general.
  
  
• The group will review the risks associated with the rupture of PIP implants and the resulting inflammatory reaction, and consider whether any changes will be needed to their advice.

38,274 surgical procedures were carried out by BAAPS members in 2009. This is a 5% increase from 2009, when 36,482 were performed

34,413 procedures were carried out on women. This is a 5.0% increase from 2009 when 32,859 were performed

3,861 procedures were carried out on men. This is a  7% rise from 2009 when 3,623 were performed

Breast augmentation (‘boob jobs’) remains the most popular procedure for women with 9,481 performed this year, a large 10.3% increase from 2010

Rhinoplasty is the most popular procedure for men with 993 performed in 2010 up 13.2% on 2010

Male breast reduction or gynaecomastia ops (‘man boobs’) rose from 581 to 741, a 27.5% increase and is now the 2nd most popular procedure for men

Breast reduction surgery in women rose from 4122, to 4.959 a 5.4% increase

Facelifts for women rose by 12% to 4,493, whilst abdominoplasty, liposuction and otoplasty all fell

Facelifts for men also rose by 11.4% to 263, whilst otoplasty and abdominoplasty all fell

Most popular procedures for women:

Breast augmentation:                                   9,418 – up 10.3% from last year

Blepharoplasty (eyelids):                              5,127 – up 7%

Face/Neck Lift:                                            4,493 – up 12%  

Breast Reduction:                                        4,218 – up 2.3% 

Rhinoplasty:                                               3,214 – up 8.6%                 

Most popular procedures for men:

Rhinoplasty:                                                993 –  up  13.2% from last year

Breast Reduction:                                         741 –  up  27.5%  

Blepharoplasty (eyelids):                               652 –  up 5.8%                        

Otoplasty (ear correction):                             496 –  down  27%          

Liposuction:                                                 473 –  up 5.2%          

The huge increase in ‘man boobs’ jobs makes it now the second most common procedure for men after rhinoplasty, whilst for women the most popular procedure  is still breast  augmentation.  In this time of recession perhaps money was spent on the  ‘visible’ areas of the body and it is most important  therefore that you ensure your surgeon:

holds an appropriate qualification in plastic surgery which is registered with the GMC;

is a registered member of BAAPS;

either holds, or has held, or is qualified to hold, a substantive consultant post in plastic surgery in the NHS.

Source: BAAPS

In order to protect patients undergoing injectable cosmetic procedures, the IHAS (Independent Healthcare Advisory Services), a representative trade body for the independent healthcare sector, launched the Register of Injectable Cosmetic Providers and Quality Assurance Mark in April 2010. The IHAS has the backing of Government Ministers and funding from the Department of Health, the IHAS Register of Injectable Cosmetic Provide enables providers to apply for registration through www.treatmentsyoucantrust.co.uk.

The Register will provide a list of registered practitioners and the name of their practice that provide injectable cosmetic procedures.

Injectable cosmetic treatments entail the injection of substances into a patient to enhance their appearance. The most popular are Botox® and dermal fillers.

The increasing popularity of these forms of treatments has led to a rapid growth of providers, many of whom are not sufficiently qualified to undertake these Injectable cosmetic procedures. There are currently an estimated 5,000 facilities carrying out an estimated 200,000 treatments a year in the UK and, as there is no regulatory framework in place, it has meant that in some instances the wrong professionals have provided these treatments. The use of unqualified providers, inappropriate treatment environments and incidents of remote prescribing have concerned healthcare professionals in the cosmetic treatments sector, who championed the need for closer scrutiny in this area. These injections, can if administered incorrectly, cause damage to patients. The scheme will allow patients to choose from appropriately qualified providers so that you can receive treatment with confidence.

To join the scheme organisations and solo practitioners must meet IHAS standards, which include that only doctors, dentists and registered nurses can be involved in the delivery of these injectable cosmetic treatments to patients. All practitioners are accountable to their statutory regulators and must adhere to the standards set by the General Medical Council (GMC), The General Dental Council (GDC) and the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). The  IHAS will report poor practice to the relevant regulators where appropriate. The IHAS standards relate to all non-surgical injectable cosmetic treatments which include botulinum toxin and injectable fillers, as well as the administration of local anaesthesia for pain relief in advance of these injectable cosmetic treatments.

The Register of Injectable Cosmetic Providers has gone live to the public in September 2010, and can be viewed at www.treatmentsyoucantrust.co.uk.

To join the scheme the providers must comply with the IHAS Standards which cover:

• Health and Safety – ensuring the safe selection, procurement, storage, administration and disposal of medicines.
• Face- to -face consultation – with the prescriber prior to administration of the injectable
• Consent to treatment – that is written informed consent obtained prior to treatment, and retained in the patient’s record
• Patient care and provider competency – the provider has the appropriate qualifications and training to assess the patient as to the suitability of treatment  based on their medical history, and is competent to perform the procedure.

Make sure your treatment is given by providers who carry the IHAS Quality Assurance Mark. This will ensure your treatment is administered by appropriately qualified, trained and competent practitioners.

Problem
The problem was advised to the MHRA by the French medical device regulatory authority (AFSSAPS) on 30th March 2010. The French authority has withdrawn the marketing, distribution, export and use of these implants. They found that the composition of the implants is different from that approved to make its use legal, and further tests are being carried out. At this stage there is no evidence that the gel is harmful. Once information as to the safety of these implants is known the MHRA will issue advice on management.

Manufacturer
The breast implants affected by this problem are: silicone gel filled implants manufactured by PIP between 2001 and 2009 with model numbers: IMGHC-TX, IMGHC-MX, IMGHC-LS.

What you need to do
If you are concerned about your PIP implants or need advice as to the type of implants you have, then contact the surgeon who implanted them, your GP, or the centre where you had them implanted.

Further Information
The MHRA have a useful website containing an information booklet on breast implants: www.mhra.gov.uk/mhra/breastimplants.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has stated that there is no evidence that the gel [they] contain is harmful or that the implants will leak into the body. They endorse the recommendation of the MHRA to seek advice from the implanting surgeon. www.baaps.org.uk.

• holds an appropriate qualification in plastic surgery which is registered with the GMC;
• is a registered member of BAAPS;
• either holds, or has held, or is qualified to hold, a substantive consultant post in plastic surgery in the NHS.

Source: BAAPS