PIP breast implants: the difference between medical grade and technical grade silicon oil

I hear the news and read the papers. Did PIP use technical grade silicon or medical grade silicon oil in their PIP breast implants? And yes, there is a huge difference in the level of “cleanliness” of these 2 types of oil. The medical grade silicon oil is much more refined and purified than technical grade silcon oil. I worked in the oil industry for quite a few years.

If the PIP breast implant bursts, then the contents spill directly into the body. You want to have medical grade in your body, not technical grade. Why use technical grade oil? It’s a lot cheaper than medical grade by about 500% . Technical silicon is maybe £5/litre and medical grade silicon oil is approx £25/litre and to even obtain a sample involves a serious amount of paperwork.

 Of course, if the PIP breast implant bag does not burst, then you are OK.

When and if the PIP breast implant does burst, you can be in a lot of trouble. It’s too late…you are full of dirty technical grade silicon.

Action before is needed, not after.

Lock up the frenchman!