Pictured: Dalvi Humzah
Midlands cosmetic surgeon Dalvi Humzah is calling on the
Government to reinstate The National Breast Implant Registry
(UKBIR).
Following the recall of PIP implants by French medical
authorities, Mr Humzah says it is essential the government adopts
the mandatory registration of all implants by both private health
consultants and NHS consultants.
French company Poly Implant Perthese (PIP) is being investigated
after authorities discovered PIP implants contained a non-approved
silicone gel and had a high rupture rate leading to complications.
The potentially dangerous implants are believed to have been used
in up to 50,000 breast augmentation procedures in the UK.
He commented: "Both surgeon and patient experience with the PIP
implant was extremely unsatisfactory with a concerning number of
complication rates, most common being the rupture of implants and
unusual lumps."
In the last six months alone, Mr Humzah has treated several
patients with ruptured PIP implants. Most involved the removal of
the implants, breast clean up and placing new implants in one
single operation.
"At the moment, there is no way of knowing for sure how many
women have been given PIP implants. If the registry was reinstated,
we could easily access this information to ensure patients affected
are treated and made aware of such complications," said Mr
Humzah.
Following its launch in 1993, The Department of Health decided
to close the UKBIR in March 2006 claiming only a limited number of
implanted women were willing to take part in the scheme.
Mr Humzah continued: "Many problems associated with implants
surface after several years. With no comprehensive record-keeping
mechanism, necessary long-term information is unavailable.
"Ideally, we need a new registry that protects women's privacy,
yet enables the research we need to make sound, informed safety
decisions. Just as importantly, it means women can be alerted
quickly to any health threats that develop."
US health regulators are also considering setting up a registry
that tracks safety problems with breast implants.
Mr Humzah's private practice, Plastic and Dermatological Surgery
(PDS), only recommends Nagor silicone gel-filled breast implants to
patients.