Just Found Out About PIP!

Hiya Ladies,

I only just found out about this whole PIP saga today after reading about it on an online newspaper.

I had my surgery in 2005 with The Hospital Group. I was only 18 at the time! I was a bit panicked when reading about the issues with these implants and upon reading on the hospital group website I was pretty sure thats what I had - I was at work so my mum checked my documentation and I have PIP cloverleaf implants.

I was really worried as all the info online is overwhelming as theres so much of it so I asked my Mum to phone the Hospital Group to try and arrange a free appointment with a nurse which is advertised on the website. They advised for her to get me to phone back for a chat and so I arranged an appointment with the nurse for tomorrow which is great considering I only rang at dinnertime today.

I was a bit upset that my Mum said when she mentioned it to them she was told by the lady on the other end "well it has been all over the media and its been on our website for months". Maybe i've been under a rock or something to have missed it in the media, but do they really expect at 5 years post-op for people to be checking their website on a regular basis?

I've also booked an appointment with my GP which is in a few weeks, just in case as the appointments are few and far between.

I know it is hard to diagnose a rupture without a scan, mine feel quite 'ripply'. They have been tender but nothing majorly painful as yet. I did get a lump under my armpit back in about 2007, I went to the doctor and was told it was probably a cyst which would go away in its own time, when it didnt I went back and was told the same again. Its still there but it is tiny.

Sorry to create a new topic, but theres so much info its very overwhelming and I just wanted to clarify my options for after the appointment tomorrow/my GP appointment. If there is no rupture do I still need to have these implants removed and replaced? And if there is a rupture is it correct that THG will replace them free of charge? It seems to indicate that on the website, but at 5 years post-op I wondered if i'd still qualify...

Sorry for the essay! x

Firstly welcome to BJSF hunni. xx

I can tell you now hun that you'll get nothing from THG tomorrow other than to be told not to worry and that your PIPs aren't harmful.

What you NEED hun is an ultrasound/MRI scan and you won't be offered either of those from the clinic, you'll have to ask your GP to refer you for one of those or go privately, as you already have raised lymph nodes your GP has a duty of care to have that further investigated, regardless of whether or not you had your initial surgery done privately.

A scan is the ONLY way to know whether or not you have a rupture hun, if a surgeon/GP simply feels your breasts they cannot make a diagnosis in this way, it's impossible.

If you do have a rupture confirmed and you're within your aftercare agreement then you will be entitled to a free re-op. If not hunni then sadly if you want them replaced you will have to fund the surgery yourself.

Your other option if you do have a rupture would be to turn to the NHS to have the implants explanted. This would be done for free but the NHS will not provide replacement implants.

If you don't have a rupture, you can choose to keep the PIPs but you should know that they have a high rupture rate and you would need to check regularly for ruptures (I've read yearly scans) this could be costly though as I can't see your GP giving you 'yearly' scans.

A lot of women are also seeking legal advice in regard to this too babe, so it may be a good idea for you to find a solicitor who can help on the matter.

Good luck hunni and if we can help with anything... we're here for you hun

Thank-you very much for your quick and detailed reply :)

From reading online I figured as much that I won't get much from tomorrow which is why I booked the GP visit as well, i'm still going to go though as I think should I pursue anything legal in future it'll be important to show I contacted them.

Regarding the GP visit though should I tell her i'm worried about my implants? Because the lump really is tiny, sometimes I struggle to even find it! So not sure if she would consider an ultrasound on the basis of that?

I'm pretty sure i'm well out of my aftercare as it was 5 years ago, i'm not sure whether i'd go with THG again as although it all went really wel (PIPs aside!) and I liked my surgeon it was in Birmingham and i'd refer something a bit closer to home (Manchester), but I guess that is something I will have to consider.

coysx wrote:From reading online I figured as much that I won't get much from tomorrow which is why I booked the GP visit as well, i'm still going to go though as I think should I pursue anything legal in future it'll be important to show I contacted them.

Absolutely babe :thumbs:

Regarding the GP visit though should I tell her i'm worried about my implants? Because the lump really is tiny, sometimes I struggle to even find it! So not sure if she would consider an ultrasound on the basis of that?

It doesn't matter that the lump is small hun, it's there! You must also stress the change in appearance (rippling) and also place a lot of emphasis on the fact that your breasts are tender.

Be sure to also quote this to your GP from the BAAPS website (it may help to print off the page to take with you HERE)

The BAAPS, the not-for-profit organisation established for the advancement of education and practice of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit, have previously issued a call for all women who have this type of implants to undergo an ultrasound scan in the next six months, to determine whether there is any rupture or weakening.

xx

Thank-you Cookie youre a star, really appreciate you taking the time to reply! Will take that info with me and have also contacted a legal firm. Not sure if i'm allowed to mention names on here, but its the one that is representing many PIPs ladies! Fingers crossed everything goes okay.

Will keep you posted, thank-you again :)

Hi newbie, I was in exactly the same position as you only 2 wks ago. I came across the scandal on pips purely by chance and had the same response from my original clinic which was Birkdale Clinic Crosby Liverpool "it has been all over the news" and my reaction was the same as yours in that no i dont check the websites daily and yes I think I should of been informed if there is something possibly dangerous in my body" but rant over and having 2 weeks experience in this matter - we are on our own. I had an Mri scan done privately it cost me £395 but best money I have ever spent for peace of mind. It could be that you just have a cyst but with all the evidence now of high rupture rates and silicone leaking into lymph nodes etc you must get it checked out. If you want to pm me for any advice or help then please do as I know exactly how you are feeling at the moment and if I can help anyone like other people have helped me then Im there for you x

Well just been to see THG nurse. She was absolutely lovely, but because of all this I found myself feeling very cynical and wondering if it was genuine!

She was reassuring and played it down as we all expected but told me I was sensible for coming having them checked. However she told me that tests had proved there werent any problem with toxicity of the gel used, which from reading online isn't entirely true as obviously while the UK tests haven't found anything the French tests weren't entirely conclusive.

She felt them and had a look and said the felt fine, they're pretty much the same size as each other apart from natural asymettry and she felt them and said that the 'rippling' I can sometimes feel is probably the edge of the implant as i've had mine placed over the muscle so it'd easier to feel.

She told me should I have any problems with them that I have their number and to call back and should anything happen she would then arrange for me to see a surgeon.

So all as expected really!

Still going to goto my GP obviously and ask for the ultrasound and then take it from there, depending on if there is a rupture or not.

The test results are due back early 2011 arent they? So hopefully they will give us a bit more info and help me decide where to go from here.

ps. I tried to PM you Janette but I don't have enough posts to use that facility yet unfortnately!

Hi, im new to this site. I've only just recently heard about PIPS. I got my implants 2 years ago at the Birkdale clinic crosby. Does anyone know if this clinic uses these implants? Im worried sick now until i speak to them. I get niggly pains now and again in both my breasts, usually the left one but i do experience some pain in both. Feel absolutely sick to my stomach after reading all the comments on here.

Firstly welcome to BJSF Kay.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news hun but yes, the Birkdale did use PIPs hun, but I can't say for sure you will be one of the women who has them.

It's important that as you're unsure about your implant make that you contact The Birkdale and get them to confirm your implant make for you.

There's no need to panic hun but you do need to find out if you do have PIPs and as you're experiencing pain, you need to see your GP about arranging an ultrasound scan for you to find out whether or not the implants are intact.

First step is to contact the Birkdale hunni and good luck. We're all here for you

Hi Kay, I had my ba at Birkdale 2007 and unfortunately I have found out I have Pip implants. If you have your paperwork it shows the make and serial number. Unfortunatley Birkdale went into administration last year and have reopened under a new name now. I hope you havent got pip implants but if you phone them in tomorrow they will be able to confirm it with you. If you want to message me you can get me on jankernaghan@yahoo.co.uk as I know how scared you must be feeling right now and if I can help in any way Im there for you x

Spoke to the Birkdale today and i do have PIP implants. They have told me to go to my GP to arrange an mri scan. They also said they will remove them and replace them for £2500. However if there is a rupture they will replace them for £4000. I explained that I am still under the 3 year gurantee. She then said the Birkdale went into administration last year but they are still trading under the same name. So she said they are not liable to pay for new implants. Absolutely furious over this as ive only had them done under three years so should have to pay anything. Im thinking of going to a solicitor. Thanks for your reply x

Thanks very much Janette just seen your message. Have you had yours removed and have you had any problems with them? I want to get mine removed as soon as x

My op is tomorrow Kay, I am so scared but know it is the only decision that makes any sense to me. I havent had problems as such but paid for a mri scan private just to put my mind at ease and it confirmed no rupture thankfully so I just want them out before they do (and they will) xxx

Kay h 23 wrote:Spoke to the Birkdale today and i do have PIP implants. They have told me to go to my GP to arrange an mri scan. They also said they will remove them and replace them for £2500. However if there is a rupture they will replace them for £4000. I explained that I am still under the 3 year gurantee. She then said the Birkdale went into administration last year but they are still trading under the same name. So she said they are not liable to pay for new implants. Absolutely furious over this as ive only had them done under three years so should have to pay anything. Im thinking of going to a solicitor. Thanks for your reply x

It just infuriates me how you ladies have been treated. Absolutely digusting!

I think you'll be very lucky if your GP sends you for an MRI scan hun although this is the best means of detecting a rupture. If, and I stress 'if' your GP does refuse you an MRI, keep pushing hun and if your GP stands firm then push for an ultrasound (this is what we're hearing most GPs are offering)

Be sure to also quote this to your GP from the BAAPS website (it may help to print off the page to take with you HERE)

JANETTE KERNAGHAN wrote:My op is tomorrow Kay, I am so scared but know it is the only decision that makes any sense to me. I havent had problems as such but paid for a mri scan private just to put my mind at ease and it confirmed no rupture thankfully so I just want them out before they do (and they will) xxx

Sending lots of good luck wishes your way for your op tomorrow Janette xx Did you decide to have en bloc? or are you having a replacement? xx

Hi there Cookie, I had my implants removed and the capsule as didnt want to leave anything in my body. The surgery went well and I am now back home resting and the surgeon confirmed that he had managed to remove them witout rupturing them. I am not having replacement as I am too scared I could end up in a similar position again in the future with a different make of implant and dont want to end up ill like so many ladies on this site. Thanks for your wishes x

So pleased the surgery went well hun

You had lots of good luck wishes from everyone HERE hunni.

Wishing you a speedy recovery sweetheart. xx

Ahh Cookie, I hadnt even realised these ladies had posted their good wishes, I have just burst out crying reading them. No wonder I felt so positive going though my surgery with all these good wishes floating around it is like I have a bunch of angels around me. Seriously Im overwhelmed xxx

Awwww hunni, I know through troubled times it may feel like you're very much alone but we're all here for you Janette, lean on us whenever and if ever you need to

Congratulations on the removal of you PiP's Janette, you must be so relieved. I am having mine replaced (I'm not as brave as you to go without implants) on the 21st Jan. can't wait to get these thing out of me!!
Wishing you a speedy recovery xx