Implant Safety

Jasper Gill has over 20 years of experience in surgery and over a decade as a specialist breast augmentation surgeon. In addition, Jasper belongs to the Association of Breast Surgeons and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

 

Well versed in the latest techniques and supported by highly-qualified staff, Jasper Gill provides exceptional breast augmentation surgery with a high success rate. 

 

However, in any surgical procedure, there remains a small element of risk. On this page, we’ll cover vital information regarding your breast surgery, including techniques used and ALCL information so you can feel at ease with your procedure. 

 

Breast implant surgery has a very high success rate; however, complications can occur. Amongst these, the most common are capsular contracture and implant rupture, which can lead to reoperation, implant removal or exchange. But what is capsular contracture? 

 

Following surgery, your breasts will heal and adapt to the presence of your implants. The natural response of the body is to create an internal scar which, in most circumstances, helps to hold breast implants in place. 

In some cases, however, the scar tissue tightens around the implant over time. This is known as capsular contracture. It’s more common in those who have had a breast infection, bleed or persistent fluid collection and generally results in reoperation.

 

All implants have the potential to rupture, the rate of rupture for most implants is five to ten percent at 10 years. The signs of rupture are breast pain, hardening or swelling of your breast, a change in shape of your breast and enlarged lymph glands in your armpit. If your implant has ruptured it will need to be removed and/or replaced. Replacement of your implant can usually be undertaken at the same time as removal of your implant.

 

Although reoperation is a consequence of significant capsular contracture or rupture, reoperation may also occur later in the lifespan of your breast implants due to overlying visible implant rippling or changes in the cosmetic appearance of your augmented breasts. You may for example want to change the size of your implants to better suit your body as it changes or to uplift your breasts over the top of the implants to counteract natural breast drooping over time. 

 

When treating capsular contracture, implants must be removed from the body. In these cases, Jasper Gill utilises a total capsulectomy technique when possible. This technique involves the removal of not only the breast implant but the surrounding scar tissue too. 

 

BIA ALCL (Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma) is a very rare type of lymphoma which has been found in women with breast implants. It typically appears as a swelling of the breast, linked to the fluid surrounding the implant, occurring at least a year after surgery. More advanced symptoms include pain, swelling, lumps or asymmetry. It is usually successfully treated by implant and capsule removal when caught early. The risk of this BIA ALCL is currently thought to be around 1 in 26,000 over your lifetime if you have textured implants. Further information on BIA ALCL can be found at the Asscociation of Breast Surgery .  

 

Jasper Gill only uses breast implants which have the Kitemark and CE certification. These confirm that the breast implants are entirely certified and safe to use. Jasper’s preferred implant brand is Mentor, who are owned by Johnson and Johnson and enjoy full UK and EU certification. 

 

If you have any further questions on implant safety, these can be discussed during a consultation.