Allergan Textured Breast Implant Injury Lawyers
Fighting to Obtain Justice from Allergan for Causing Lymphoma
In July of 2019, the Food and Drug Administration issued a notice requesting that pharmaceutical company Allergan recall its textured breast implants. The administration found that Allergan’s textured breast implants placed those who received them at a significantly higher risk of cancer known as breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma or BIA-ALCL.
Key facts surrounding the implant recall include the following:
- Before the FDA-requested recall, 38 countries had stopped the sale of BIOCELL implants
- BIA-ALCL is rare, and about 84 percent of known cases have been linked to BIOCELL implants
- The FDA has linked at least 12 deaths with Allergan textured breast implants
If you’ve suffered from BIA-ALCL and are the recipient of Allergan textured breast implants, contact Arnold & Itkin today. Our Allergan breast implant injury attorneys are ready to provide a free consultation: (888) 493-1629.
The Allergan Textured Breast Implant Recall
Women choose textured breast implants because their rough surfaces interact with body tissue and help them stay in place. The FDA’s recall of Allergan’s breast implants comes after 38 countries already recalled the company’s products. Initial worries over the safety of Allergan textured breast implants began in March of 2017. The FDA resisted an initial recall because the administration stated that it needed to further study the issue. By the July 2019 recall, the FDA confirmed that the textured implants had a significant correlation with BIA-ALCL.
The administration found that, out of 573 cases of BIA-ALCL in the world, 481 of them were linked to Allergan textured breast implants. This is nearly 84 percent of all global cases of BIA-ALCL, and the FDA found that those with Allergan implants are six times more likely to develop cancer.
About BIA-ALCL: What It Is & Why It Happens
BIA-ALCL stands for "breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma," a rare breast cancer almost exclusively associated with textured breast implants. The texture of the implants creates scar tissue and fluid buildup, which eventually generates tumor cells. The symptoms of BIA-ALCL can take up to 10 years to manifest.
Symptoms of BIA-ALCL include the following:
- Swelling near breast implants
- Pain near breast implants
- Skin irritation
Though medical professionals are not completely certain what causes BIA-ALCL, one theory states that the cancer occurs in reaction to a rough implant’s texture. Rough implants are supposed to interact with body tissue to stay in place. Some medical professionals believe that this tissue-implant interaction causes immune cells to accumulate and become cancerous. Another theory posits that a bacterial biofilm coats the surface of textured implants and triggers BIA-ALCL.
If a person is diagnosed with BIA-ALCL, the FDA suggests that they remove the implant, including the scar capsule near the implants. This is an extensive operation but is necessary to remove the tissues associated with BIA-ALCL. This rare form of cancer has claimed the lives of 33 women. Of the 13 deaths in which an implant manufacturer has been identified, investigators confirmed that 12 of them had Allergan implants.
Allergan Breast Implant Recall FAQ
What Does the Recall Do & What Implants Does It Affect?
Allergan textured breast implants account for approximately five percent of implants in the United States. Other implants produced by Allergan, such as Allergan’s NATRELLE smooth implants or MICROCELL breast implants and tissue expanders, are not affected by the recall. A recall means that Allergan’s BIOCELL implants are to no longer be sold in the United States and that doctors will no longer use them. In addition to its United States recall, the company has also issued an international recall.
Do Allergan Biocell Textured Breast Implants Pose a Higher Risk of Cancer?
Dr. Jennifer Ashton, the chief medical correspondent for ABC News, says that the risk for those with textured breast implants is one in 3,800 on the high side and one in 30,000 on the low side. Those with Allergan BIOCELL breast implants are at a higher risk to develop cancer. The FDA found that out of 573 global instances of BIA-ALCL, 481 are attributed to Allergan implants.
This means that Allergan BIOCELL textured breast implant recipients have a six times greater chance of developing BIA-ALCL when compared to recipients of other implants.
What Type of Implants Do I Have?
If you are not sure which type of breast implants you have, your best option is to contact the medical professional who implanted them. Additionally, those with medical implants receive a card from the manufacturer with information about them. Locating this card will help you determine which breast implants you have.
What Does the FDA Suggest People with Textured Implants Do?
Currently, the FDA does not recommend that those free of BIA-ALCL symptom have their implants removed. Instead, the administration has urged those with textured implants to monitor and report any changes to their healthcare provider. Cancer from textured implants can take years to develop, so the FDA suggests close and regular monitoring for symptoms.
What Can Those Suffering from BIA-ALCL Do?
If you’re suffering from BIA-ALCL because of Allergan implants, help is available. Arnold & Itkin fights for the compensation that clients need after suffering from the irresponsible behavior of pharmaceutical companies. We’ve taken on some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, including Johnson & Johnson, and we have won billions in record-setting victories so clients could get their lives back on track.
Ask an Allergan Breast Implant Lawyer About Your Options
One of the most frustrating facts about the development of this recall is there were signs of the dangers of Allergan textured breast implants in 2011. In 2017, more concerns about Allergan were raised from investigative reports. However, the FDA did not issue a recall of the implants because it cited the need for more research. Even though 38 countries recalled Allergan BIOCELL textured breast implants, the pharmaceutical company continued to off them in the United States until the FDA finally asked for a recall in July of 2019.
While nothing will change what happened to you because of this product, you can hold this company accountable by calling us. Our Allergan breast implant attorneys are ready to find answers for what happened and pursue the financial relief you rightfully deserve.
Call us today to find out what to do next at (888) 493-1629. A member of our team is available to hear your story.