Women concerned about French-made PIP breast implants can find all the latest NHS information about the issue on this page.
Worries about the implants have emerged since news of a major investigation into them in France was widely covered in the media in December 2011.
It is thought that around 40,000 women in the UK have the implants, with about 95% of them having been provided privately for purely cosmetic reasons.
What’s the problem?
The French implants caused global concern after it was revealed they contained industrial silicone rather than medical-grade fillers and that they may be more prone to rupture and leakage. Initially reports also linked the implants to a rare form of cancer known as ALCL. This cancer link has been now been firmly discounted by medical experts here and in Europe.
What type of implants are involved?
The implants involved are called Poly Implant Prosthèse (PIP) and were made, starting in 2001, by a French company of the same name.
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