Leading cosmetic surgery group refusing to fund new breast implants

Ministers have agreed to pay for the removal of the French-made silicone products for women who had them on the NHS, and have called on private clinics to acknowledge their “moral duty” to offer the same service.
Although the Department of Health said it would “pursue private clinics with all means at its disposal to avoid the taxpayer picking up the bill”, it confirmed on Friday night that it would help women if their clinic was no longer in operation or refused to care for them.
Officials say the implants – thought to have been fitted in some 52,000 women who wanted larger breasts for cosmetic reasons or after cancer surgery – only need to be replaced if they have ruptured but will also carry out the procedure if the patients are worried about them.
Most independent providers have agreed to provide free surgery for their patients who received implants made by the now-defunct Poly Implant Prothèse – which were filled with non-medical grade silicone intended for use in mattresses – at least one is holding out while another has so far refused to reveal its policy.
Transform Cosmetic Surgery said the Government needed to “accept its responsibility” for the problem as the implants had been approved for use by a watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.