Department studies extent of use of suspect breast implant

Medical officers at the Department of Health are examining the extent to which a breast implant, now banned in the UK, is used in cosmetic surgery in the State.

A spokesman for the Department said an initial investigation had established that the Trilucent implants, banned because of safety concerns, were not widely used in Ireland.

He said the Department was aware of the potential problems associated with the implants, whose filling is derived from soya bean oil. It was monitoring the situation and would take appropriate measures if necessary.

Advanced Cosmetic Surgery, Ireland's largest cosmetic surgery company which performs up to 50 breast augmentations a month, said it had used Trilucent implants twice since the early 1990s.

Ms Halina Ashdown Shiels, manager of ACS, formerly known as Transform Ireland, said it stopped using the implants, first, because the oil tended to smell, and, second, because patients had to sign a special disclaimer before surgery.

The British Department of Health announced the ban on Monday after 74 adverse incident reports were received. Up to 30 involved possible rupture of the implants and leaking. Some women said they had experienced inflammation.

A spokeswoman for the Dublin Cosmetic Surgery Clinic said it had had numerous requests from women for the implants but never used them because of safety concerns.

Mr Anthony Ryan, a consultant plastic surgeon at the Blackrock Clinic, said he also never used the implants, mainly because the oil could become rancid and smell. Dr Shirley McQuaid, medical director of the Well Woman Centre, said she was against implants in general as they impeded cancer screening, making it more difficult to locate or identify tumours.