Around 45,000 women in the UK have been warned their silicone gel implants could be at risk of rupturing
Nearly fifty thousands women in the UK have been warned by health chiefs that their breast implants could explode.
The best-selling silicone implant made by the French firm Poly Implant Prothese (PIP), are thought to be twice as likely to rupture.
A government health agency is urging women with this type of implant to contact their plastic surgeons to consider having the implants removed.
They run the risk of developing toxic shock syndrome or gangrene if the implants explode.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has also ordered cosmetic surgeons to stop using these implants.
It follows a nation-wide ban in France of the best-selling implant after it found the implants had been filled with a silicone gel with a composition different from that approved since 2001.
They are now carrying out urgent testing to see if the unapproved material is safe.
Dr Susanne Ludgate, from the MHRA, said: 'Clinicians should not implant these devices and they should quarantine any stock.
'Patients who have concerns about their PIP silicone gel-filled breast implants should contact their breast implant surgeon.'
Plastic surgery is booming in Britain after models like Katie Price and Danielle Lloyd had much publicised boob jobs.
Models such as Danielle Lloyd have popularised cosmetic surgery.
Plastic surgeon Mr Dalvi Humzah said: 'In recent years we've seen an increase in women suffering from ruptures and in many cases these have involved these PIP implants.
'I'd advise them to stay calm and not panic at this stage. It's currently unclear what the dangers are to patients who've had these implants, as we have to wait for the French government to reach a conclusion.
'The problem we have is that our Government scrapped the national breast implant register.
'Obviously a lot of patients could have had these implants since 2001 and moved away, changed jobs or anything. So it's important that the message gets out about this.'
Ninety per cent of the implants manufactured by PIP were exported, with an estimated 66 countries receiving them.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons says it is not the first time it has heard of problems with the French products.
Former president Douglas McGeorge claimed there had been previous fears about the safety of the implants, which were often popular with some clinics because they were a 'cheaper' option.
It is thought that Poly Implant Prothese has gone into liquidation. It's website is no longer online.
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