What You Need to Know About the Allergan Breast Implant Recall

What You Need to Know About the Allergan Breast Implant Recall

When we visit a doctor or a plastic surgeon for any reason, we expect to receive high quality care and high-quality products. However, some products can have defects and cause harm to our bodies and health. Recently, the pharmaceutical company Allergan has recalled their breast implants – which may still reside in the bodies of thousands of women. Here is what you need to know about the recall – and what to do if these implants affect you. You may be eligible for a lawsuit with our breast implant recall attorneys.

Why Did Allergan Recall Their Implants?

Allergan, a pharmaceutical company who produces breast implants and other surgical tools related to breast augmentation surgery, is recalling certain implants and tissue expanders after the discovery that these products could lead to certain types of cancer – specifically, breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first identified the possible link between breast implants and cancer in 2011, but was unable to fully determine the factors of BIA-ALCL until recently. At the request of the FDA, surgeons must cease the use of all BioCell textured breast implants and tissue expanders in their practice.

What Implants Did Allergan Recall?

Only certain breast implant products have links to the development of the BIA-ALCL cancer. If you have any of the following implants, you should visit your medical provider as soon as you can to check for symptoms of BIA-ALCL.

• Natrelle silicone-filled breast implants
• Natrelle saline-filled breast implants
• Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically Shaped Silicone-Filled breast implants
• Natrelle Inspira silicone-filled breast implants

The recall applies to tissue expanders as well, which as sacs that expand when saline, or salt water, fills them to stretch the skin of the breast. Plastic surgeons use tissue expanders to ease the placement of permanent implants into the breast.

If the surgeon used either of the following tissue expanders for preparation in your breast augmentation surgery, you should visit a doctor to check for symptoms of BIA-ALCL.

• Natrelle 133 Tissue Expander with Suture tabs
• Natrelle 133 Plus Tissue Expander

Should You Remove Your Implants?

Breast implant removal surgery can be very painful and difficult. As such, the Food and Drug Administration does not recommend that all women who have the recalled implants and tissue expanders have a surgeon remove them – but if you experience any BIA-ALCL symptoms, you should visit your doctor immediately.

Symptoms of BIA-ALCL can occur three to 14 years after the initial survey. If you experience any of the following symptoms of BIA-ALCL, contact your doctor to discuss your options for removal surgery.

• Excessive fluid build-up around the implant
• Asymmetry of the breasts, or the breasts look different from each other
• Pain, swelling, or lumps in the breast or armpit

What to Do If You Have BIA-ALCL

If you visit your doctor and discover you have BIA-ALCL, you will have to have removal surgery for the implant. In addition, you may have to undergo intensive treatment for the cancer itself, including chemotherapy, additional surgery, and medications. This treatment can be invasive and painful, severely impacting your quality of life.

You may be eligible to collect compensation for your injuries through a lawsuit against Allergan. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you can collect damages for past and future medical expenses, lost wages due to recovery time, and pain and suffering.

Contact an Attorney as Soon as Possible

If you are a victim of a defective Allergan breast implant, do not panic. Instead, visit a doctor to discuss your best options and to treat any complications. As soon as you can, contact an attorney who is working on litigation for recalled implant victims to discuss your case and legal remedies. Your attorney can provide numerous benefits for your case.

• Your attorney will handle all necessary paperwork so you can focus on recovery.
• Your attorney can determine what possible damages you can collect in your lawsuit, collecting necessary pieces of evidence to support your case.
• Your attorney can connect you with other victims of defective Allergan breast implants to strengthen your claim.

For best results, contact an attorney as soon as possible after your BIA-ALCL diagnosis so that you can pursue the compensation you need to recover.