Purpose of Breast Implant Serial Numbers?

Question

I am a reporter covering the story about slain model Jasmine Fiore. She was reportedly identified as a murder victim by a serial number found in her breast implant. Do all breast implants have serial numbers? For what purpose?  Do they also have "chips" for making sure the implants are authentic?

Jeff Angobaldo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Breast implants similar to all implantable medical devises have the manufacturer name, cc, serial and lot numbers. This will help identity the implant if there is a complications that requires removal for research and tracking for quality.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

Purpose of Breast Implant Serial Numbers? These are to track the implants in the event of needing to identify them.

Jeffrey J. Roth, MD, FACS · Answer

Breast implants have the manufacturer, size in cc's, and a number stamped on the back.  Breast implants are implantable medical devices, (i.e.; pacemakers, defibrillators, etc).  Implantable medical devices are required to be tracked for quality assurance and research purposes.  At time of surgery this number is recorded in the patient's chart, and is sent off to the manufacturer.  They can then track issues like leak rates, etc.

	There are no other "tracking" devices, (chips or otherwise), on the implants.

Ricardo A. Meade, MD · Answer

Jasmine Fiore was fortunate to have had these implants to identify her expeditiously since so much damage was done to her other natural ID's.  I almost wish the way they identified her hadn't gotten out because now who knows what measures the next sick individual is going to take.
  There are no microchips in implants.  Just saline or silicone.  They have a serial number for tracking purposes because the companies that produce them in the US (Mentor by Johnson and Johnson or Natrelle by Allergan) study their product for quality control.  They know where every single implant is and can track their product very efficiently.

Christopher L. Hess, MD · Answer

All breast implants, whether made by Mentor or Allergan, are identified by a lot number and a serial number.  This is for research purposes.  When patients receive implants a tracking form is sent to the company.  Should the implant fail and need to be replaced, the failed implant is returned to the company.  This does two things: 1. it is used for the guarantee and 2. it is used to study why the implant failed.
No chips.  That's a little too Big Brother.

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

Serial numbers are very important for the purpose of implant tracking, quality assurance and research. Some gel implants are still included in the national study and it is required to to keep track of all implant info including serial numbers.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Breast implants have serial numbers for tracking purposes. Surgeons are supposed to report the patient information to the implant company for tracking purposes. This allows patients to be contacted for recalls ,etc..

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

Mike,
The breast serial numbers allow the two large implant manufacturers Mentor and Allergan (formerly Inamed, formerly McGhan) to continuously track complication and leak rates and improve their production. No RF tags or others are currently placed and I think those may run afoul of privacy laws.
I am NOT familiar of Jasmine Fiore's case but TV imitates life.
A similar theme was presented in an episode of Law and Order. Moreover, a few years ago a Jane Doe was found slain in Florida (do not recall where) and the only potential ID were the serial numbers of her Mentor breast implants which were publicized by the coroner who tried to establish her identity by enlisting the help of the Plastic Surgery community. I asked my Mentor sales rep to contact her superiors and see what they could do but we never heard back. Probably in the interest of preserving the privacy of the victim and surgeon.
Hope this was helpful.

Bahram Ghaderi, MD · Answer

Yes, all implants do have serial numbers. Both manufacturers in the US (Allergan and Mentor corps) track their implants for quality assurance purposes such as for keeping track of leakage rates. All implants have on them their size and serial numbers. They do not have chips as of yet. Although anything is possible depending on where she had her surgery, I have not heard of any surgeon using imitation implants.

Michael Diaz, MD · Answer

The two breast implant manufacturers (Allergan/Natrelle and Mentor) in the US place serial numbers on their implants. A device tracking form is submitted to the manufacturer at the time of implantation so that record is kept in case of a leak, etc. The implant size,style,lot number, and serial number is also given to the patient to keep. The implants are not equipped with chips. I have never heard of imitation or knock-off implants, but I suppose anything is possible. I make sure I get the real deal by ordering only from the manufacturer.

Purpose of Breast Implant Serial Numbers?

Answers (12)

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