British experts say PIP breast implants not long-term health risk

The NHS Medical Director’s expert group has published its final report on PIP breast implants. It concludes that although the implants are substandard they do not constitute a long-term health threat.

Breast implants produced by the now defunct Poly Implant Prothese (PPI) are not toxic and not carcinogenic, according to National Health Service experts. The U.K.Department of Health published its findings on June 18, in a study led by NHS medical director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, the Telegraph reported. Although the study finds that PIP implants have a higher risk of rupture than other brands, the effects of rupture are localised reactions which do not pose significant health concerns. The experts agreed that "providers of cosmetic surgery have a recognised duty of care to minimise the health risk to their patients" and should thus be responsible for keeping their patients informed of the results summarised in the report. The report validates advice given by Professor Keogh in January when he said there was insufficient evidence to recommend the routine removal of PPI implants.