Breast Implant Scandal Spurs U.K. Cosmetic Surgery Review

The French breast implant company Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) is currently the target of a mounting legal claim by hundreds of European women due to their defective and substandard implants.

PIP, which went into liquidation in 2011, is accused of manufacturing silicone implants that are comprised of industrial-grade silicone and not the accepted medical-grade silicone. Many breast implant patients have reported rupture, lumps and illness associated with this product, recently.

This overwhelming outpour of patients had led the National Health Service (NHS) in England to crack down on advertising and regulations regarding implants and products used in plastic surgery. A web site was also launched to educate the women who received PIP implants/products and encourage them to report any issues they may have: http://www.mypipbreastimplants.co.uk/

“The recent problems with PIP breast implants have shone a light on the cosmetic surgery industry,” explains Sir Bruce Keogh of NHS, in the statement. “Many questions have been raised, particularly around the regulation of clinics whether all practitioners are adequately qualified, how well people are advised when money is changing hands, aggressive marketing techniques, and what protection is available when things go wrong.”

Dr. Lewis Obi, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in Jacksonville, with his exceptional OR Team.

The Review to Consider Nose Jobs

The review will consider a range of procedures, including nose jobs, breast enlargement or reduction, facelifts, liposuction and anti-wrinkle treatments. A national implant register for products including breast implants will also be considered, the department said in the statement.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons said it would welcome the establishment of a national register and suggested that the government consider restricting advertisements to protect patients.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kristen Hallam in London at khallam@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Kristen Hallam at khallam@bloomberg.net

Dr. Lewis Obi states that national and state regulatory agencies/societies are already in place in the United States. The American Board of Plastic Surgery regulates its members and hospitals regulate the various specialties. However procedures performed in so call “accredited” clinics which are not AHCA licensed fall through the cracks and basically are unregulated. The only AMA recognized board for cosmetic surgery is the American Board of Plastic Surgery and patient confusion arises from titles such as the board of "Facial Plastic Surgery." Patient education and awareness is an important function of the Obi Plastic Surgery Clinic website which is directed by website designer Aubrey Garner. Dr. Obi, Aubrey and his staff produce informative blogs three times a week as well as a monthly newsletter.

Obi Plastic Surgery Clinic, an AHCA Licensed Clinic