The issues surrounding PIP implants keep growing. Even though the FDA warned French authorities about the substandard quality of PIP implants in 2000 they continued to allow their use. Recently it has become clear that the silicone used in PIP implants was not up to medical grade standards. This has caused a higher rupture rate and significant complications in women across the globe.
As the PIP implant crisis grows more and more governments are coming forward to advise women in their country to have the implants removed. First were the French and Venezuelan governments. Now Italy and Czechoslovakia are following suit. Considering there are estimated 300,000 women with PIP implants around the world we will likely see more of this in the near future. The take home message remains the same – if you have PIP implants, you should have them removed.
On my radio show, “New Reflections” we recently discussed PIP implants and other interesting breast implant topics with one of the doctors that helped develop the very first breast implants, Dr. Thomas Biggs from Houston, Texas. You can listen to the show here:
http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/58776/from-the-beginning-to-the-end
