Concierge implant surveillance · UK
One clinic for every implant you have — breast, hip, cochlear, dental, cardiac.
A dedicated implant health assessment — the right consultant, the right imaging, and the MHRA and registry paperwork done for you. Silent problems caught early; revision decisions made properly.
Why patients choose us
- 01
One clinic, every implant
Breast, hip, cochlear, dental, cardiac or neurostimulator — surveillance planned in one place, on one calendar, by one team.
- 02
MHRA-aware and registry-linked
Adverse events routed to the MHRA Yellow Card and, for breast implants, the Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry — as the law requires.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the surveillance schedule and revision advice you get is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private implant health assessment costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A first implant health assessment in our network: £200–£500, imaging arranged on the day.
| Assessment | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implant health consultation (any device) | £200–£400 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Breast implant review + ultrasound | £350–£650 | 45 min | Same visit |
| Breast implant MRI (silicone-specific) | £500–£950 | 45 min | 3–5 days |
| Metal-on-metal hip: Co/Cr ions + review | £300–£550 | 30 min | 5–7 days |
| MARS-MRI (metal-on-metal hip) | £650–£1,100 | 45 min | 3–5 days |
| Joint replacement X-ray + arthroplasty review | £250–£500 | 30 min | Same visit |
| Cochlear implant annual audiology + MAP | £250–£500 | 60 min | Same visit |
| Dental implant peri-implantitis review | £150–£350 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by which consultant leads the review, by which imaging is used, and by whether more than one implant is being reviewed in the same visit. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right specialist, the right imaging, the right interval.
Long-term implants outlive the clinic that fitted them. NHS surveillance is real but pathway-siloed — you end up chasing the plastic surgeon, the arthroplasty consultant, the audiologist and the dentist separately. This service pulls them together.
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Lost track of the last review?
Old records, a change of surgeon, a move of city. We reconstruct the surveillance history and put you back on interval.
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New symptom, one implant?
A late seroma, a painful joint, a hot device site. Same-week consultant review with the right imaging booked.
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Multiple implants, no single owner?
We coordinate the plastic surgeon, arthroplasty consultant, audiologist and dentist so you have one calendar, not four.
The journey
From enquiry to next-review date — what happens, in order.
One coordinator from first message to written report — including the MHRA and registry paperwork.
Phase 1 · Before your visit
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us which implants you have
A short, confidential form. Type of implant, when it was fitted, the operating surgeon, any symptoms and any recent imaging.
- 02
Before
We come back with a surveillance plan
Within one working day: which reviews and scans are due, at what interval, and where. If the manufacturer or MHRA has issued a notice on your device, we say so.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointments
Usually within one to two weeks. Imaging (MRI, ultrasound, X-ray, PET-CT) and clinic reviews are lined up back-to-back where possible.
- 04
On the day
Assessment at the clinic
Consultant review, focused examination and any imaging or bloods on the day — serum metal ions for metal-on-metal hips, ultrasound for breast implants, X-rays for joints.
- 05
On the day
Same-day preliminary findings
A verbal read of the day’s results where possible, with the formal written report to follow within a few working days.
- 06
On the day
Home the same day
No admission, no overnight stay. You leave with a written schedule for the next round of surveillance.
- 07
After
Report, plan and any onward referral
A written report, an updated surveillance schedule, MHRA Yellow Card submission if needed, and — if the findings warrant it — a warm handover for revision surgery.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to assessment. Written report: 3–7 days.
When it helps
When an implant health assessment is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Breast implants ≥5 years
FDA recommends silicone MRI at 5–6 years then every 2 years for silent rupture. UK practice varies — we set an interval that fits your device and history.
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Textured breast implant (BIA-ALCL risk)
A late unilateral seroma or capsular mass in a textured implant needs urgent aspiration, cytology and CD30 immunohistochemistry.
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Metal-on-metal hip (MHRA-mandated)
Annual serum cobalt and chromium, symptom review, and MARS-MRI if symptomatic or Co above 7 μg/L.
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Any hip, knee, shoulder or ankle replacement
NJR-tracked joints benefit from annual PROMs and surveillance X-rays for loosening, wear and osteolysis.
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Cochlear implant recipient
Annual audiology, MAP re-programming, integrity check, and processor-upgrade eligibility roughly every 5–7 years.
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Dental implants ≥1 year
Peri-implantitis surveillance — probing depths, bleeding, radiographic bone level — plus bruxism and prosthetic-wear checks.
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Pacemaker, ICD or neurostimulator
Pacing-clinic or SCS/DBS programming reviews at 3–6 monthly intervals, ± remote monitoring and battery-life projection.
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Red flag: new unilateral swelling or pain
A sudden painful joint, a new breast seroma, a hot implant site or spreading redness is not for a routine clinic — same-day A&E.
Assessment types
Every implant has its own surveillance shape.
What each assessment on the menu actually involves — and which fits which device.
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Breast implant review
History, focused examination, ultrasound and — where indicated — silicone-specific MRI for rupture, capsular contracture (Baker III–IV) and BIA-ALCL work-up.
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Metal-on-metal hip surveillance
MHRA-mandated annual serum cobalt and chromium, Oxford Hip Score, plain X-ray and MARS-MRI when symptomatic or ions above threshold.
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General joint replacement review
Arthroplasty consultant review, PROMs, plain films for loosening, wear and osteolysis. Escalation to revision team where indicated.
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Cochlear implant review
Audiology testing, MAP re-programming, device integrity check and MRI-compatibility documentation (1.5T conditional for most; 3T for newer devices).
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Dental implant maintenance
Peri-implantitis assessment, hygienist debridement, occlusal/bruxism review, prosthetic wear check and periapical X-rays.
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Cardiac device (pacemaker/ICD)
Pacing-clinic review with device interrogation, lead impedance, battery-life projection and remote-monitoring setup.
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Neurostimulator (SCS/DBS)
Programming review, symptom-response mapping and battery-replacement planning.
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Mesh and other implanted devices
Hernia, prolapse, insulin-pump, glucose-sensor and other implants — symptomatic assessment and onward referral to the relevant specialist.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of implant specialists, we picked them.
Consultant plastic surgeons, arthroplasty surgeons, audiologists, restorative dentists and cardiologists across central, north, west and south London and select regional centres. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every specialist in our network.
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Consultant specialists appropriate to the implant — plastic surgery, arthroplasty, ENT/audiology, restorative dentistry, cardiology or neurology
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MHRA Yellow Card and BCIR registry reporting handled on your behalf when adverse events are identified
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Imaging in units with silicone-MRI and MARS-MRI protocols already validated
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Warm handover to a named revision surgeon if surgery is likely to be needed
Safety and evidence
What surveillance is actually for — honestly.
Implant health surveillance is a low-risk, evidence-based process. The things worth understanding are the manufacturer thresholds, the MHRA rules, and where the evidence is strong versus where it is still debated.
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Surveillance is not a one-off
Modern implants outlive the guarantee. A one-off scan reassures for today; an interval schedule keeps you ahead of a silent problem.
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MHRA Yellow Card is a real duty
Suspected device-related adverse events are reported to the MHRA. We do it for you, and copy the report to your GP.
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The Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry
BCIR entry has been mandatory in the UK since 2018 for breast implants. If you were not registered at the time, we can log historic devices retrospectively.
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BIA-ALCL is rare but treatable
Manufacturer lifetime risk estimates range from about 1:2,207 to 1:86,029 per textured device. A late unilateral seroma is the classic presentation.
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Silicone rupture is often silent
Around 5% of silicone gel implants show rupture by 10 years. Most cause no symptoms — imaging is the only way to know.
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Metal-on-metal ions have a threshold
Serum cobalt above 7 μg/L, or a rising trend, triggers MARS-MRI and revision review under MHRA guidance.
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Breast Implant Illness — heard, not dismissed
BAAPS recognises BII as a patient-reported experience without an established mechanism. Some patients report symptom resolution after en-bloc explant. We take the report seriously and set out the evidence honestly.
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Peri-implantitis is preventable
Dental implants fail more often to gum disease around the fixture than to the fixture itself. Annual review and hygienist care are the whole game.
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Red flags
New unilateral breast swelling, a hot or acutely painful joint, spreading redness over any implant site, fever or a sudden neurological change are not clinic-appointment problems — call the clinic or A&E the same day.
Reading your surveillance report
Your report in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever implant is being reviewed, the surveillance report keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surveillance language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the report before your next review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Implant inventory and dates
Device type, manufacturer and lot number where known, side, date of implantation and operating surgeon.
- 02 Technique
Assessments performed today
Which reviews, bloods and imaging were done — ultrasound, silicone MRI, MARS-MRI, X-ray, audiology, device interrogation.
- 03 Findings
Findings, thresholds and comparisons
Objective results (metal-ion levels, Baker grade, bone-level changes, MAP thresholds) compared with previous surveillance and manufacturer thresholds.
- 04 Impression
Next-review interval and any action
Read this first: your next surveillance date, whether a Yellow Card or BCIR entry was submitted, and whether a revision-surgery opinion is being organised.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for implant surveillance varies by insurer and by device — usually funded when a manufacturer or MHRA alert applies, or when symptoms are present. Cosmetic-only breast implant reviews are more often self-pay. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about implant surveillance.
Quick answers on intervals, cost, MHRA rules, and what happens if something is found.
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What is an implant health assessment?
A dedicated clinical and imaging review of any long-term implanted device — breast, joint replacement, cochlear, dental, cardiac or neurostimulator — designed to detect silent complications, keep you on the correct surveillance schedule, and route any adverse events to the MHRA and the relevant UK registry.
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How often should I have my breast implants checked?
The US FDA recommends silicone MRI at 5–6 years then every 2 years. UK practice is less standardised, with symptomatic imaging more common and ultrasound often used as an alternative. We set an interval that reflects your device, its age and any symptoms.
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What is BIA-ALCL and should I worry?
Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma is a rare lymphoma linked to textured implants — Allergan Biocell devices were recalled in 2019. Manufacturer lifetime risk estimates range from about 1:2,207 to 1:86,029 per device. It typically presents 7–10 years after implantation as a delayed unilateral seroma and is diagnosed by aspiration, cytology and CD30 immunohistochemistry, with PET-CT for staging.
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Do I have to have my metal-on-metal hip checked every year?
Yes. MHRA guidance mandates annual review for metal-on-metal hip resurfacing and large-head total hip arthroplasty patients — symptoms, serum cobalt and chromium, and MARS-MRI if symptomatic or if cobalt rises above 7 μg/L.
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What does a cochlear implant review actually involve?
Annual audiology, MAP (map programming) adjustment, device integrity check and confirmation of processor-upgrade eligibility, which is typically every 5–7 years. Most current devices are 1.5T MRI-conditional and the newer ranges are 3T-compatible.
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Are dental implants maintenance-free?
No. Peri-implantitis — inflammation and bone loss around the implant threads — is the commonest cause of late failure. Annual review with an implant-specialist dentist checking probing depth, bleeding and radiographic bone level, together with bruxism and prosthetic-wear checks, is standard.
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Can I have one clinic look after all my implants?
Yes — that is the whole point of this service. Some private centres now offer bundled multi-implant surveillance, with one team coordinating the plastic surgeon, arthroplasty consultant, audiologist, dentist and cardiologist reviews rather than leaving you to chase them separately.
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What does an implant health assessment cost privately?
A first assessment is £200–£500. Imaging adds on top: a breast ultrasound is £350–£650, silicone MRI £500–£950, MARS-MRI for a metal-on-metal hip £650–£1,100, and joint X-ray with review £250–£500. We confirm firm figures within one working day.
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Is this available on the NHS?
Surveillance is pathway-specific on the NHS — breast under plastic surgery follow-up, hip under arthroplasty, cochlear under audiology, dental under your dentist. A private service brings them together and shortens the waiting time between the review and the imaging.
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What happens if you find something wrong?
You get a written report and an updated surveillance schedule. If the finding is reportable, we submit an MHRA Yellow Card and, for breast devices, update the BCIR entry. If revision surgery is likely, we arrange a warm handover to the appropriate consultant — plastic surgery, arthroplasty or the device manufacturer’s specialist centre.
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All tests
Every test and procedure we arrange.
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