PIP Implants update

The Royal College of Surgeons of England have given authoritative new professional and patient guidance on the PIP controversy.

The guidance goes beyond current government advice, which is aimed at patients with symptoms, and gives additional practical advice for the majority of patients who do not.

The full guidance can be downloaded here.

Key Points from the guidance:

• All patients should be able to have an assessment by a surgeon regardless of whether they have symptoms.

 

• If a patient requests removal - they should expect to get this, regardless of the presence of any symptoms. If a patient wants time to make up their minds this should be respected - surgery to remove implants must not be a time-limited "take it or leave it" offer.

 

• Scans should only be used as a tool to assist patients make a decision and only take place after the patient has had a consultation with a surgeon. Scanning alone is not a reliable enough tool for detecting failure rates in breast implants.

 

• Reaffirms the surgical association's view that all clinics have an ethical and moral duty of care to offer these patients treatment without charge.

 

• Advice to GPs on where to refer patients with different symptoms to ensure they get most appropriate treatment.

PIP Implants update

ISAPS (the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) have today announced their stance on the PIP controversy. They strongly support the French recommendation that breast implant patients check with their surgeon/hospital to find out if their implants were manufactured by the French company, Poly Implant Prosthesis (PIP).

Even without signs of rupture, these implants should be removed or exchanged immediately to avoid further complications and risks.

Mr Alvi, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Sthetix in Liverpool, and a member of ISAPS, strongly endorses their recommendation.

A ruptured PIP implant, recently removed by Mr. Alvi

Over the last 12 months Mr Alvi has removed or exchanged ruptured PIP implants in a large number of cases from other clinics including some from abroad.

PIP Implants

French authorities have today recommended that all PIP implants be removed as a precautionary measure, while also stating that there is no link to cancer.

On the other hand, the UK's MHRA (the government agency which regulates the safety of medicines), has maintained the position that that there is no need for women with PIP implants to have them removed.

Mr Alvi, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Sthetix Clinic Liverpool and Member of BAAPS has reiterated that if anyone with PIP implants is concerned, they should in the first instance, contact their initial provider.

He added that as there is a well established risk of ruptures with PIP implants, any concerned women should consider an MRI scan.

At Sthetix Clinic in Liverpool, we have dealt with a large number of problems related to PIP implants in the last year, most of which were ruptures.

SANITY OR VANITY

Liverpool Plastic Surgeons show how cosmetic surgery is not always about vanity

09-11-2011, 9am – Consultant Plastic Surgeons from Sthetix Clinic in Liverpool appear in a new series on Discovery Real Time to illustrate the fact that, in most cases, cosmetic plastic surgery is to treat a physical or psychological problem - not Vanity.

A review of the last 100 patients requesting a cosmetic surgery procedure at Sthetix Clinic has clearly illustrated this fact. 82% felt they had a physical and a psychological problem and a further 14% felt they had a psychological problem alone which they believe could be corrected by surgery. Only a small percentage (about 4%) felt they wanted surgery purely for vanity reasons.

Discovery Real Time is currently running a series “My Naked Secret” on Sunday nights. This is highlighting the benefit successful cosmetic surgery and psychological help can have on people suffering from physical or psychological problems or both related to their appearance. Consultant Plastic Surgeons, Mr Rizwan Alvi and Mr Hassan Shaaban at Sthetix Clinic in Liverpool carried out a breast reduction and a tummy tuck for a patient who was left with both physical discomfort and psychological trauma following weight loss.

“It is rare to see a patient requesting cosmetic surgery who does not have a psychological reason for the request”. Leading Liverpool Plastic Surgeon Mr Rizwan Alvi said “we assess both the physical and psychological needs of our patients when considering cosmetic surgery”.

Cosmetic surgery is not always about “boob greed”. When carried out by properly trained Plastic surgeons who will assess both the physical as well as the psychological wellbeing of the patient, great benefit can be achieved. Conversely, if done for the wrong reasons, physical and psychological harm can result.

Sthetix Clinic, Liverpool provides a wide range Cosmetic surgery, Non-Surgical cosmetic treatments, Gynaecological treatments, Laser treatments and Skin care. A highly experienced group of NHS Consultant Plastic Surgeons and Gynaecologists provide these services from this clinic.

For more information

To schedule an interview with Mr Rizwan Alvi or to obtain pictures, please contact 0151 669 1114/fax 08456430209.

Mr Hassan Shaaban, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Sthetix Clinic and Liverpool Laser Clinic, was featured in Maverick TV's new series, "My Naked Secret". This was aired on Discovery Real Time on the 30th of October.

Mr Shaaban carried out a breast reconstruction for a patient who had a mastectomy (removal of a breast) for the treatment of breast cancer.

Using the advanced technique of DIEP flap (Deep inferior epigastric perforator flap) , he used the skin and fat from the lower abdomen of the patient to create a new breast. This tissue was transferred successfully using microsurgical techniques.

Cellulaze, the revolutionary new laser treatment for cellulite now at Sthetix, is featured in The Mail on Sunday

Cellulaze, the revolutionary new laser treatment for cellulite, is launched in the UK.

Sthetix is the only centre in the north of England to offer this treatment, and one of only 3 in the whole UK, and in addition, we are an official European training centre for this procedure.

The One Show featuring Sthetix on the importance of choosing your plastic surgeon carefully