In 2022, my constituent Jan attended my advice surgery to discuss the health issues she had been facing for over ten years, from mental fog to joint pain, that were all caused by her breast implants.  

Prior to their ban in 2010, Jan was one of thousands of women who had received PIP breast implants, whether as part of their breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy, to address body dysmorphia, or for a plethora of other reasons. This has caused severe health implications for so many recipients of this type of breast, as PIP implants contain non-medical grade silicon and have been found to have a 500% higher risk of rupturing or leaking than approved models, meaning that even after they have been removed, silicon deposits have been found throughout these women’s bodies. Beyond this, doctors have now confirmed that PIP breast implants are linked to a specific form of cancer, Breast Implant Associated-Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) making this issue all the more urgent. 

If you are affected by the PIP Breast Implant Scandal, you can contact the PIP Action Campaign at this link for more information, and please do contact your GP if you are experiencing any health issues that you think may be related, and 999 in the case of emergency. 

I have been raising the issue of the health implications of PIP Breast Implants for a long time now, including during the debate I held in Parliament in January 2023 within which I asked for there to be a register and for all women who have breast implants to be pro-actively contacted by their GP and the risks and symptoms explained to them.  

Here is the debate from January 2023: PIP Breast Implants – Hansard – UK Parliament.

I remain concerned about how PIP breast implants have caused long-term health implications for those who had them installed, even beyond their removal. During the meeting in Parliament in April, we heard from both experts and victims who provided a clear picture of this issue to the parliamentarians who attended. As a result of this meeting, the Women and Equalities Committee launched an enquiry into the risks associated with cosmetic surgery and breast implants on May 14th. This day enquiry was a galvanising and moving way to shed light on issues surrounding cosmetic surgery, validate the lived-experience of many women, and discuss how we can support victims further. The Select Committee hosted a follow up session on July 16. You can read the transcript of the enquiry here.   

You can find all information regarding the Breast Implant Registry at this link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/clinical-audits-and-registries/breast-and-cosmetic-implant-registry.