Breast implant scandal: Campaigner claims best years of her life were ruined

MAIRI Johnston from Inverness has been trying to raise awareness about the dangers of breast implants for the past year.

She has suffered years of ill health which, she claims, followed the rupturing of her implants.

The 56-year-old, a mother-of-three from Suilven Way, Kinmylies, feared she might die after being left seriously ill and needing ten operations in 25 years when her silicone implants burst.

She had surgery in 1985 to boost her cleavage to a C cup, but says the implants ruined the best years of her life.

She claimed she suffered symptoms including numb arms, a permanent cough, headaches and swollen glands. One night she collapsed and felt so ill that she thought she was dying.

She launched a petition with the Scottish Parliament a year ago to highlight the potential risks.

However, the Scottish Parliament’s health and sport committee has closed the petition as it found there was not sufficient evidence showing how many women had been affected by burst implants.

Ms Johnston’s petition urged the Scottish Government to consider banning silicone implants, to raise awareness of the dangers and to extend the three-year time bar for injury claims.

Holyrood is now seeking fresh advice on the potential health risks of silicone gel breast implants.