Removal and Replacement of PIP Breast Implants

Anca Breahna is available for PIP breast implant removal and replacement, a procedure that is sadly required by many thousands of UK women.

The need for this form of surgery has only become more apparent as the full scale of the PIP implant scandal has emerged.

However, a ruling in the French courts has provided hope to tens of thousands of UK women and hundreds of thousands around the world. Those who had PIP implants inserted, those who were let down at every stage by their surgeon, should, at last, be able to claim compensation.

While a move to be welcomed, compensation alone cannot of course undo the years of stress, suffering and anguish from a dereliction of care whereby implants using industrial grade silicone, a product never cleared for use on humans, was used in the name of profit.

PIP Implants – A Failure of Morals

The PIP scandal is an awful example of moral failings on every level. It is a black mark on the medical profession.

The French company Poly Implant Prothèse  – from whom the PIP implant name derives – made cheap implants from the decade of 2001 to 2010 using a cheap, low-grade silicone that was designed for use in industrial applications.

The French company has since been liquidated, the founder handed a prison sentence and that for many suggested hope of compensation was lost.

Failings, though, occurred at every stage. These awful implants had to gain regulatory approval for them to be used, that was provided by TUV Rheinland, a German company who issued a European safety certificate.

However, many surgeons also cannot claim ignorance in good faith, claiming that they only used the implants because they had approval. Suggesting they saw no issues.

Surgeons check implants for defects, they assess their quality. It has always been obvious that PIP implants were a low-grade, cheap product. Alarm bells should have rung for any experienced surgeon.

Leading surgeons, surgeons with a true ethos of care never touched PIP implants. If a potential client asked for them, their head turned by the cheaper prices, the surgeon would state they weren’t happy with the quality of these implants and refuse to even countenance their use.

Regulators in the UK have also come in for criticism, a review in 2012 suggesting that there should have been more done to publicise the dangers of PIP implants and create awareness for those who had undergone this surgery that correction might be required.

Impacting Women’s Lives

Successful cosmetic surgery should do so much more than simply make an aesthetic change. It also helps to boost confidence and self-esteem, resolving what might have been a constant cause for concern.

For many women, concerns about their breasts can have a profound impact, whether it is the size and shape or congenital conditions such as breast asymmetry or tuberous breast.

Never undergone lightly, the decision to have implants should therefore have helped to address these issues. PIP implants did the opposite.

The testimonials of British victims are disturbing.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jayney Byrne said: “It felt like someone was stabbing me in the chest with something hot. I had trouble sleeping at the time. And some of the silicone is still there in my chest – it’s a worry.”

Mrs Bryne said she has had eight operations at a cost of £20,000 in an attempt to remove leaked silicone.

Gail Coxon told the BBC: “I had gone from being bright and vibrant and bubbly and full of energy to feeling like I was an old woman, and it was just horrendous and got progressively worse over the years until I had them removed.”

Removal or Replacement?

While removal of PIP implants is an option, Anca Breahna is among the leading surgeons who would advise having them replaced with a safe, modern implant.

All implants need replacement after time – often around a decade – but there are no safety concerns as the implant ages, the need for replacement is for appearance, not out of medical necessity.

Given the last PIP implant was used in the UK in 2010, we are approaching a time when replacement would have been required had they been a safe, normal implant.

The concern with only removing the implant would be that it has not addressed the issue that led to a patient seeking implants in the first place, nor would it address changes to the breast since.

Safety is of prime importance, removing the PIP implants that have a potential to leak substandard silicone, but then the ongoing mental health of the patient must also be considered.

Replacement can allow at least a positive end to an undeniably harrowing process. Finally, the woman can have the breasts she wanted and know that they are safe. 

The PIP Implant Removal and replacement Process

The process of removal and replacement begins with a detailed and empathetic consultation. 

Nobody undergoes cosmetic surgery lightly, but when a patient has had the experience of PIP implants there is an extra degree of care and sensitivity required. Many patients consider Anca Breahna because as a female leading surgeon she naturally understands the impact the failed initial surgery can have both on physical and mental health.

Breast implant removal and replacement is typically performed through the same incisions which were made during the initial breast augmentation procedure.

The body will naturally develop scar tissue around the implant, known as a ‘capsule’, which can harden and cause discomfort and alter the shape of the breast. Capsulectomy can address issues related to the look and feel of the breast and help to alleviate pain.

The capsule that surrounds the implant would be removed and a new implant inserted into this vacant area ‘the pocket’.

The skin can then be closed at the incision.

The fact that it is PIP implants being removed can create additional complications as any silicone that has leaked would be of low quality, potentially leading to secondary concerns This might only be apparent once surgery has begun.

For some, there will be no leakage and the impact can be removed in a relatively straightforward manner.

Others, as highlighted in the victim impact stories, will have suffered major leakage from ruptured implants. Whereas with a high-quality implant, this leakage would not be a medical concern, this is not the case with a PIP implant. Care would be needed to treat the impact of the failed implant.

Other issues can include necrosis, or dead tissue developing around the implant, bleeding or a build-up of calcium.

The patient requires the PIP implant to be removed and any secondary safety concerns to be addressed, but then there is also the reconstruction aspect. This creates the size and shape of breast desired, and helps what has undoubtedly been a negative process become that bit more positive.

It is impossible to go into great detail in a web page as so much depends on the individual nature of each case.

The need for that thorough, empathetic consultation cannot be overstated. It is your chance to speak to an expert, for them to assess just what is required and suggest a plan of best action.

It is the start of moving forward.

PIP Implant Removal Key Facts

Please note that these are a broad guide as the nature of surgery will vary greatly by patient.

Surgical time: Typically 2 to 3 hours

Anaesthetic: General

Hospital stay: Overnight – potentially two days

Final result: 3 to 12 months post surgery

Recovery: Some recovery within two weeks, but ongoing after that. For instance, you would have to wait around 12 weeks before resuming sporting activity.

Follow-up: six weeks, three months, six months and one year. However, Anca will also hold extra follow-ups as required and is always available to answer concerns and queries.

About Anca Breahna

Miss Breahna is one of a small number of acclaimed female cosmetic surgeons operating, this gives her unique insight into many procedures and why people opt for cosmetic surgery.

On site, you can read her full biography  – please take the time to research any medical expert you may be considering for any cosmetic procedure.

Miss Breahna has a level of experience and training that is truly outstanding.

She holds the fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS Plast), the Fellowship European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (FEBOPRAS), the Post Graduate Diploma for Hand Surgery at the BSSH (British Society for Surgery of the Hand) and a Master of Science Degree at the University of Manchester and she is on the GMC Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery.

Miss Breahna is a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at the Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust. She holds practicing privileges at Nuffield Health The Grosvenor Hospital in Chester and Spire Murrayfield Hospital in Wirral.

Professional qualifications include being a member of the General Medical Council and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Next Steps

Please take the time to browse this site to find further information.

Miss Breahna would also welcome the opportunity to hold a detailed consultation with you.

Please contact by calling 07538 012918 or using the Contact Form.