In his management recommendations women with PIP breast prostheses, the ministry specifies that the removal of these prostheses is advised “as a preventive measure but that there is no emergency.”
First, and after checking the brand of your breast prostheses on the card given to you during the implantation, you will need to make an appointment with your surgeon or with the clinic where you performed the operation. . It is with the latter that you will discuss the preventive explantation of prostheses (even if there is no sign of deterioration).
I am no longer in contact with my surgeon
The regional health agencies will set up, from the beginning of January, a telephone service where you can obtain a list of establishments likely to receive you for an explantation.
How much will it cost me?
The costs of explanting PIP breast implants, including hospitalization costs, will be covered by Health Insurance. The installation of new prostheses will also be reimbursed by the Health Insurance for the 20% of women who are undergoing reconstructive surgery after breast cancer. This will generate an invoice of around 60 million euros for the Social Security, according to the assessments made to date.
On the other hand, if it is a cosmetic surgery operation (80% of cases) the installation of new prostheses will be the responsibility of the patient. The average cost of an implant is around 300 euros, or 600 euros for both breasts. As for the surgeon’s fees, they should be adapted to this reimplantation operation: the vast majority of plastic surgeons having agreed not to practice excess fees in this particular case.
What if I don’t want to take them off?
Even if you do not want to perform an explant now, it is still necessary to make an appointment with your surgeon. In fact, because of the risk of rupture, you should have breast and axillary ultrasound follow-up every 6 months.
Note that unlike the French authorities, the British Department of Health “does not advise” women who wear PIP breast implants to have them removed, considering that “the removal of these implants represents a risk in itself”.
For further information, a national toll-free number is available Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m .: 0800 636 636
