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The French company that produced the silicone filled prosthetic implant for breast augmentation known as the Poly Implant Prosthesis (PIP) is no longer trading and was not insured against personal injury in the event of mechanical or other failure of their silicone breast implants, chest augmentation products or testicle prosthesis. In order to be compensated for personal injury it is now necessary to pursue a claim against the supplier of the Poly Implant Prosthesis (PIP) which may include the hospital, clinic or medical professionals involved in the supply line using current domestic defective product legislation. Some patients traveled abroad for surgery and in some countries the PIP Poly Implant Prosthesis used for breast augmentation was re-branded as the Rofil M-Implant.

Apart from the fact that PIP implants may have a higher failure rate than is normal it is believed that most of the Poly Implant Prosthesis were manufactured unlawfully without approval of French or European Authorities using industrial grade silicone usually deployed in the manufacture of mattresses, instead of medical grade silicone. Whilst some of the earlier implants may be fully compliant and contain medical grade silicone, it is believed that most PIP implants are inferior and at risk of causing serious health problems in the event of failure. Apart from the ingress of unwelcome silicone into the body, industrial grade silicone contains other ingredients that are not approved for medical use which may be carcinogenic. Some contentious studies have indicated a higher than normal rate of cancer in those people who received the defective implants.

Official recall of all Poly Implant Prosthesis PIP products has required suppliers to contact all recipients to advise them of the current situation. An estimated 2000 women resident in Ireland received PIP implants for aesthetic purposes only however it is believed that all implants used for reconstructive surgery were sourced elsewhere. There are also a number of men who may have received suspect testicle implants for reconstructive surgery after surviving testicular cancer and others who received chest augmentation products for reconstruction of physical defects caused by 'Poland Syndrome' and for other aesthetic and cosmetic purposes.

Even if the PIP supplier offers to remove the implants free of charge, there still remains the question of the cost of the initial operation, compensation for the physical pain and suffering of the initial insertion and subsequent removal of the implant, compensation for psychological distress and payment for time off work together with all other reasonably incurred losses. Our specialist solicitors deal with medical negligence litigation and product liability litigation for personal injury compensation claims arising as a result of defective bio-mechanical devices including prosthetic silicone testicle implants and prosthetic silicone breast implants and all other silicone prosthetic products manufactured by Poly Implant Prosthesis of France. If you would like free advice, without any further obligation, from a qualified solicitor on the potential for taking legal action either individually or by joining a multi-party group (class action) just call our helpline. If you would prefer to discuss this issue with a same sex lawyer just ask at the initial contact.

Breast augmentation implants are the answer to many women who have small breasts and who have problems with self esteem as a result. Hundreds of thousands of women throughout the world undergo a breast implantation each year, making it one of the most popular invasive plastic surgery procedures in the last decade. Because it is a procedure that enlarges the breasts, it is normally reserved for women over the age of 18, who have already had the maximum growth of their normal breasts but are still unhappy with their size.

There are several reasons why a woman would want to have a breast augmentation implant. These include:

• Improving the appearance of the breasts after having a baby.
• Celebrating a major life milestone, such as an important birthday, a marriage or a divorce.
• Having breasts that aren’t the same size so that different sized implants need to be placed.
• Being self-conscious around the shape of one’s breasts.
• Having a more balanced body shape so that the breasts match the hips in a more hourglass shape.
• Being unhappy about the small size of the breasts after they have maximally grown during puberty.

In addition, the woman who has breast cancer and who has a lumpectomy or mastectomy may want reconstruction of the breast or breasts. At this time, they can choose to have the breast size they always had or they can choose to select breast augmentation implants that make their breasts larger.

Some women get breast implants because they want to please a sexual partner or their family; however, most women choose breast augmentation implants because they want to feel better about their own body for deeply personal reasons.

Breast augmentation implants were invented in the 1960s. Such implants consisted of a flexible silicone outer lining and were filled with a semi-liquid form of silicone. At that time, they were used for cosmetic purposes and for breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery. Unfortunately, these older implants were subject to leakage and many unwanted side effect that caused some women to experience serious health problems as a result. Silicone implants were eventually taken off the market altogether because of safety concerns.

If you still have an older version of the breast augmentation implants or if you got your implants overseas, they may not be up to normal standards and you should seek the advice of a cosmetic surgeon as to what to do. There are many dozens of breast augmentation implant types on the market right now that are available to all consumers.

Currently, there are only two types of recommended breast augmentation implant filler materials. These include the saline implant and the silicone gel implant. Both types have a type of elastomer outer shell. Of the two available implants, the silicone implant is generally considered more popular. While saline implants are purely liquid, silicone implants come in several different types of viscosities, from fairly liquid to fairly thick. The shape of the breast augmentation implant can be spherical or round, or can be in the shape of a teardrop, which more clearly mimics the normal shape of the breast when inserted correctly with the narrow side up toward the axilla. Round implants are able to rotate in the body so that they maintain a normal shape in any direction and have smooth outer shells, while teardrop breast implants have a textured outer shell to discourage movement.

There are several different types of breast augmentation implant insertion procedures. Some are considered subglandular and are placed beneath the fatty and glandular parts of the breast but lie above the muscle of the chest wall. A second type of implant procedure involves inserting the breast augmentation implant beneath the muscle of the chest wall. Many plastic surgeons prefer the submuscular approach because the implant edges are not as visible and the implant is better supported by the strength of the muscles overlying the implant.

When saline implants are placed in the body, the saline is put into the shell after the shell has been placed in its proper position. Silicone implants are already filled at the time of insertion. The surgeon makes an axillary incision, an incision near the umbilicus or an incision located in the crease beneath the breast. A pocket is made by dissecting the tissue above or below the muscle. Rarely an incision can be made around the areola and the saline or silicone breast augmentation implant can be placed through the incision. The implant is generally not stitched into place but is allowed to rest freely within the pocket the surgeon created.

Breast implantation procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis so that, after you recover from the anesthesia, you can go home by means of a ride from a family member or friend. You will receive pain medication to control pain you will likely experience in the first few days of the procedure. Postoperative side effects you can experience include swelling, bruising and pain of the affected area. Resting for approximately a week is recommended and you cannot do any heavy lifting, pulling or pushing of heavy objects for up to a month after the procedure.

Complication rates are about the same, whether you have a silicone or saline implant. When the saline implant ruptures, the saline leaks out quickly and the breast deflates. When the silicone implant leaks or fails, doctors and patients alike may not notice the failure unless the woman has an MRI of the breasts showing the leakage of silicone. Silicone free in the body has been linked to possible connective tissue diseases or allergies to silicone in the past.

Silicone and saline implants are to be recognized as temporary devices for enhancing the breasts and nearly all will fail over time. If you have breast implantation implants placed, you need to expect that they will be temporary and that you may need additional surgery, including replacement, in the future.