The Official PIP Campaign Group (OPIC) and the PIP Implants Scotland Campaign have joined forces in appealing women to come forward with their explanted PIP breast implants and submit them to a testing programme in Italy, which is making significant breakthroughs in understanding the impact of these implants on the human body.
Italian Chemist Giangiacomo Beretta, Italian plastic surgeon Matteo Malacco, and UK plastic Adrian Richards are leading an experimental clinical survey from a laboratory based at the University of Milan.
The study, which has been ongoing for more than 1 year, has been able to take place thanks to hundreds of women submitting their explanted PIP breast implants to the researchers in Italy.
‘The first preliminary analysis performed on PIP implant specimens showed features that may help us to understand the complicated picture of the health effects of PIPs,’ said Dr Beretta.
In an extensive statement issued by Dr Beretta on the PIP campaign Facebook groups, he stated the breakthroughs and developments made, including the substances that formed the ‘filler’ of PIP implants, the significant differences between PIP implants and other breast implant brands, and the direct impact of some of the toxic ingredients to the lymphatic system.
However, Dr Beretta stated that much work still that needs to be done to address many unanswered questions: ‘A question that still needs to be answered is why do some PIP implants not show any problems during many years of implantation, while others are found ruptured or ‘exploded’ after just a few months of implantation?’
To answer the questions that thousands of women worldwide are anxiously asking, Dr Beretta has joined forces with official PIP campaign groups and appeal to women to submit their explanted breast implants to the testing campaign.
‘We need more samples of intact implants to get a more clear picture of the situation (manufactured before/after 2007, you can get this information at the last two digits of the 5-digits serial number of the implants or of its ID card). (With attached information about serial numbers and clinical evolution since implantation.)’ he wrote.
‘We need specimens of shells from ruptured implants too with attached information about serial numbers and the clinical evolution since implantation.’
Trisha Devine, a spokesperson leading the PIP Implants Scotland Campaign, said: ‘Together with OPIC, our PIP campaign wishes to see all women treated fairly by government and NHS, as well as oversee a public inquiry into this scandal, and Jean Claude Mas successfully convicted for his crime of health fraud on a global scale.’
If you wish to obtain further information on how to submit explanted PIP Implants to the study please contact Trisha Devine [email protected] or OPIC [email protected]
