In a study carried out by Maijers and Niessen, the clinical consequences of PIP implants were studied. 112 women underwent physical examination by a plastic surgeon, had MRI scans and were interviewed regarding any symptoms. Of the 112 women, 30.4% had symptoms attributable to their implants; physical examination showed that 10.7% had findings suggestive of rupture, most commonly pain; however when these implants were removed, it was seen that there was no significant correlation between complaints or findings at examination with implant rupture.

MRI remains the preferred method compared with physical examination for diagnosing rupture. The clinical consequences of women with PIP implants are actually comparable to those reported by other manufacturers of silicone implants, which helps to objectify the worries about PIP implants. As such, here at LBPS we carry out and highly recommend a complete examination including listening to patients concerns, physical examinations, and both ultrasound and MRI scans to ensure that we have the clearest view of any potential problems with the implants. Our position remains that all PIP implants should be removed because their quality may be poor and their silicone content might be unauthorised.