PIP breast implant victim’s nightmare
Hayley Cannam has PIP implants which have reptured. She is battling to have reconstrructive surgery at the same time as they are removed, to avoid being left at risk of infection
A YOUNG mother who has ruptured PIP breast implants has hit out at a hospital’s refusal to provide reconstructive surgery.
Hayley Cannam, 23, from Elmswell, says that while West Suffolk Hospital will remove the implants, she has been forced to seek a mastopexy (breast uplift) at a private clinic, which she says she cannot afford.
In 2007, Hayley paid for implants to improve her appearance because she had one breast significantly smaller than the other.
When the PIP implant scandal came about in 2010, and they were banned because of concerns over their use of an unapproved filler, Hayley discovered she had those implants and many of their symptoms.
She had already returned to her clinic once, complaining of pins and needles in her arms and a burning sensation in her breasts, but after the scandal she found out it had closed and with it went her implants’ lifetime guarantee.
An ultrasound taken three week ago confirmed her implants had ruptured.
West Suffolk Hospital has offered to remove them but it will not perform any reconstructive surgery, which Hayley said would leave her with disfigurement.
She said: “It’s been horrendous. I want them out but I’m young and need some help to put things right.”
A spokesman for the hospital said: “As Miss Cannam’s implants have ruptured, we are able to remove them on the NHS in line with Department of Health guidance.”
He said there were clinical reasons why the hospital could not carry out the reconstructive surgery and added that her consultant ‘would be more than happy to discuss her care further if she wishes’.
Hayley, a nurse, said: “I really don’t understand how they could possibly expect me to live my life disfigured like that.”
The BMI clinic, in Bury St Edmunds, has offered to perform a mastopexy on Hayley after removing her implants free of charge, but the mother-of-one says she is unable to meet the full cost.
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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