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US health officials recently announced that implants used for breast plasticity can cause rare cancers. It is a prosthesis made by Ellergan in the United States and is being recovered in Korea. We reported that more than 110,000 items were imported and distributed.

I'm Roh Yujin.

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The breast implants that KFDA has reclaimed are rough surface breast implants from Ellergan, USA.

Dissatisfied with the smooth appearance of existing implants, the product features a rugged surface that adheres better to the skin.

Because of its natural shape, it became popular with the so-called 'water drop molding'.

On Friday, the US FDA says Ellegan's silicon-gel breasts are six times more likely to develop anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare type of blood cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration says more than 29,000 products have been distributed in the last three years.

However, when SBS obtained and reviewed the recovery plan reported by Ellergan to the Food and Drug Administration, a total of 117,000 were imported.

There are about 3,000 products left on the market.

Surgery patients are anxious.

In particular, breast cancer patients have used Ellegan products more than 5,700 patients who have undergone surgery since 2015 when health insurance began to cover breast cancer reconstruction.

[Relax Surgery for Elleran 'Surface Implants' Patients: (Breast Cancer) Three years after surgery, I watched for three years, so I reconstructed one side. To Ellergan. It's like living with a time bomb… Really, really more upset than when he was diagnosed with cancer.]

Some have pointed out that they have to look into the entire rough prosthesis.

Since 2007, more than 210,000 have been distributed.

[Jae-Hong Kim, Surgeon Specialist / Korea Breast Implant Research Chairman: Ellergan's implants are reported the most (rare cancer). It is not number… It is most important that you always have your implant checked.]

The Food and Drug Administration says no surgery is needed if there are no symptoms.

[Chief Barun Future Party Representative / National Assembly Health and Welfare Commissioner: KFDA is only passing the cost of product recovery, patient identification and treatment to the (import) company.]

There have been no reported cases of such rare cancers in Korea, but more clear guidelines should be prepared as patient anxiety increases.

(Video coverage: Ju Bum, Video editing: Jang Hyun Gi)