Thousands of women who had PIP breast implants could be in line for payouts totalling up to half a billion pounds . Elizabeth Williams , 34 , had PIP implants fitted in 2008 , and plans to claim compensation . Thousands of British women who had PIP breast implants could be in line for payouts totalling up to half a billion pounds . There are believed to be more than 50,000 women in the UK who were fitted with the implants before the product was discovered to contain a high level of industrial silicone . But the deadline for compensation expires today - and there are still many UK women who don ’ t realise they can claim compensation for their implants . The scandal came to light after doctors found unexpectedly high numbers of women were suffering from ruptured implants . The Stanton Fisher Group , a firm of UK financial claims specialists representing PIP patients from all over the world , has said the total payouts for British women could total as much as half a billion pounds . It is welcome news for the thousands of women in the UK who faced trauma , financial costs and further operations to have their PIP implants removed . And they are urging women to come forward to start their claims as soon as possible , before the deadline at the end of today . It comes after many women have been unsuccessfully trying to gain compensation from their individual private clinics and banks . Solicitor Steven Hulme from Stanton Fisher , said : ‘ Anyone living in the UK should consider making a claim now . ‘ Women who have had PIP implants simply need to prove they had the surgery undertaken . There is no requirement for the implants to have ruptured or still be in place to pursue a claim . ‘ The victims of the PIP breast implant scandal have been cruelly and criminally treated and we are determined to get justice and financial compensation for them. ’ PIP implants were sold widely across the world from the mid 1990 ’ s . There was uproar when it emerged in 2010 that the french firm Poly Implant Prothese ( PIP ) had been manufacturing the implants using industrial grade silicone intended for use in mattresses . Jean Claud Mas , the founder of Poly Implant Prothese was jailed for four years last year for fraud at a court in France . But in November 2013 , a court in Toulon , France , ruled that the German safety company TUV Rheinland , which had certified the silicone implants , is liable for having failed to perform its control properly and has to compensate the victims whilst PIP is in bankruptcy . A law firm is urging women to come forward to start their claims as soon as possible , as the deadline for claiming payments is at the end of today . French lawyer Olivier Aumaitre , who is working closely with Stanton Fisher , discovered that the German company had repeatedly certified the PIP implants and he took them to the French Court where the ruling was made . The ruling , which is now pending before a Court of Appeal , could make TUV Rheinland liable to pay compensation to up to 300,000 women around the world - including women in the UK . Mr Hulme added : 'This has opened the door for the thousands of women in the UK and Ireland who had PIP implants to take action in the French Courts . ‘ We are pursuing an advance payment of unto £2500 for each of our clients , prior to their final compensation award being decided by the Court , which could be up to £10,000 . It is welcome news for thousands of women in the UK who suffered anxiety , depression and worry after the scandal came to light . In 2010 , it emerged the french firm Poly Implant Prothese ( PIP ) had been manufacturing implants using industrial grade silicone used in mattresses . Founder Jean Claud Mas ( pictured ) was jailed for fraud . Elizabeth Williams , 34 , who lives in Manchester , had her PIP implants fitted in 2008 at a private clinic , boosting her from an A to a D cup . Miss Williams , who runs her own sandwich shop , said : ‘ After I gave birth to my daughter Georgia , ten , I felt my breast tissue had reduced significantly . ‘ Having the implants made me feel much more womanly , but then when I heard about the PIP implants I panicked . I borrowed some money from my family to pay the £2,500 cost of having them removed and new implants put in . ‘ But the whole thing left me very depressed . The compensation payouts won ’ t make up for all the worry . My daughter had to see me going through it all too , and she was very traumatised. ’ Mr Hulme added : ‘ We want to get the message out there that getting compensation is an accessible process for thousands of UK women . ’
French firm Poly Implant Prothese ( PIP ) had been illegally making implants using industrial grade silicone intended for use in mattresses . Doctors noticed high numbers of women were suffering ruptured implants . Legal action is ongoing against a German safety firm that certified implants . Women with PIP implants can claim compensation - but deadline is November 2013 . There are still many women unaware they may be eligible for a payout .