Armando already told us a few weeks ago what to do if you are breastfeeding and have an implant of this type. Now we can add the information about it the expert group of the AEP Breastfeeding Committee, which has also wanted to give its data because of the media relevance that the subject is having these days.
In a note entitled "Information for nursing mothers about breast implants of the company PIP (Poly Implant Prothese)" explains everything related to this case of defective prostheses and the advice for mothers who breastfeed and carry them, which coincide with what We told you in the previous topic.
As a summary we can say what will most interest mothers who are in this situation:
Nothing supports the contraindication of breastfeeding and even less if there has been no rupture of the prosthesis.
Before reaching this conclusion, reassuring for mothers, the Breastfeeding Committee reviews the history of prostheses and their withdrawal from the market. The AFSSAPS (Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé), first to alert and withdraw them, reached the following conclusions in 2011:
That the main problem is its greater risk of breakage and that an irritating power of the gel has been found that is not found in the silicone gels of other implants and that can lead to inflammatory reactions in certain patients. That is why, on a preventive basis, and without urgency, it is proposed to women carrying PIP implants to remove the prosthesis, even without clinical signs of implant deterioration.
That the available sources allow to conclude the absence of risk of breast adenocarcinoma in women with implants compared to the general population. The data available so far do not indicate that there is an increased risk of breast adenocarcinoma in women carrying PIP implants compared to other brands.
That the elements that justify an explantation (removal of the prosthesis) are the presence of clinical and / or radiological signs that indicate an alteration of the implant and / or the demand of the patient.
Information for nursing mothers with PIP implants
Apart from these general data on implants, which we can also expand on the website of the Ministry of Health, this article is provided additional information for nursing mothers, citing as source Dr. José María Paricio Talayero, until now head of the Pediatrics Service of Denia Hospital and responsible for the breastfeeding compatibility page with medicines and other products www.e-lactancia.org.
PIP breast prostheses contain various types of silicone, like other prostheses. These substances, in addition to being used in various industrial processes such as insulators, water repellent, surfactants ..., have innumerable cosmetic, medical and surgical uses (implants, cardiac, knee or hip prostheses, catheters, teats and pacifiers, drug capsules coating and even medications to reduce intestinal gas).
What happens if a PIP implant breaks
The silicone gel used in PIP prostheses does not reach the grade of quality of a gel intended for breast implants, which can cause local irritation in case of breakage (swelling, redness, temperature increase and stinging).
Silicones have a high molecular weight, which means they cannot be absorbed by the intestine, they are not metabolized, they are poorly soluble in water and they can't go to milk. In case of rupture of a breast implant, although some silicone passes into the blood or lymphatic system of the woman, its high molecular weight prevents it from passing into the milk and, even in this case, the infant would not absorb it in his intestine , eliminating it in the feces.
In short, nothing supports the contraindication of breastfeeding and even less if the prosthesis has not ruptured. It is only necessary think about the removal of these defective prostheses, scheduled and without urgency due to its greater risk of breakage following the instructions of the relevant health authorities.
In addition to these data, we remember that PIP silicone implants degrade much earlier than other models, about eight years from the moment they are placed. If less than it was implanted, the risk is lower.
While there is no evidence against it, the most prudent from the point of view of the health of the infant and his mother is do not advise against breastfeeding based on hypothetical risks not tested or demonstrated and that do not seem likely in light of current knowledge.
The truth is that this is appreciated Information on PIP silicone implants endorsed by the expert group of the AEP Breastfeeding Committee, and we hope that it serves as a relief to mothers who are in this situation, although they do not neglect the precautions that are indicated, with a view to the future.
