Fears of woman caught in PIP implant scare

A woman from the Black Country says she feels "extremely frightened and angry" after finding herself in the middle of a health scare over silicone breast implants.

Jenna Johnson, aged 27, believed she was having saline implants fitted when she had an operation privately two years ago after losing 8st in weight.

But she has been horrified to learn that they were actually filled with non-medical grade silicone intended for use in mattresses.

They were manufactured by now-closed French company Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP), which has hit the headlines after health concerns were raised. The French government told women with these implants to have them removed.

Miss Johnson, of The Infield, Cradley Heath, had her operation at The Hospital Group's Dolan Park cosmetic hospital in Bromsgrove.

"I believed I had purchased saline implants not silicone ones so I'm extremely frightened and angry about all of this. I don't know whether I've had a rupture so I'm worried about what could happen."

Miss Johnson said she had opted for surgery after losing weight to give her her body "some shape" and had taken the advice of doctors when choosing the implants, which she believed were the safest option.

"I can't believe this has happened," she said, adding she had asked about having the implants removed but was told that the hospital was following Government advice, which states there is not enough evidence to recommend routine removal.

The Hospital Group was not available for comment, but a statement on its website, dated January 9, said: "The latest advice from the department of health continues to be there is not sufficient evidence to recommend routine removal of PIP implants, women who are concerned should speak with their GP.

"We recognise that this statement has not gone far enough to reduce our patients anxiety levels, and we would like to reassure you that the Hospital Group operates to the highest standards of clinical excellence."

It stressed licensing in the UK came from the MHRA a Department of Health government agency.