PIP Implants
Over the past few years several surgeons have recommended pre-filled saline
implants. These implants had no valve for filling and therefore many
people believed they were less likely to leak and decreased the possibility of
feeling the valve. These implants were also slightly softer than other
saline implants.
I have not had even a single patient claim that they could feel the valve of
a McGhan or Mentor saline implant. In my experience, the failure rate of saline
implants is low. So, based on these two issues alone, I would not think
that the slightly larger scar required to insert an implant that is already
full, would be worth it!
Now we come to the issue of the PIP implant being slightly softer than other
saline implants. Having handled all of these types of implants I agree,
that the PIP implant is very slightly softer, but only very slightly.
There are many surgeons however that are wary of these implants because of the
change in the composition of the implant shell which makes it softer.
The implant shell used in the PIP is a material known as an elastomer.
This particular elastomer is very similar to the shell material that was
abandoned approximately 14 years ago by other implant companies due to a very
high failure rate.
In personal communication with representatives of the PIP company I have been
assured that the failure rate over the past few years with PIP implants has been
every bit as low as the failure rate in other saline implants. There are
many surgeons, however, that are skeptical. They do not believe that
enough time has passed to prove that the PIP elastomer will be reliable when in
place for extended periods of time.
I have spoken with many patients that were considering using these implants
over the past few years. Some have had a very hard time deciding which
implants to choose. The FDA has made that decision a lot easier. As
of mid-May, 2000, the FDA has taken these implants off the market pending
adequate supervised investigation.
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