Allergan voluntarily recalled all of its textured breast implants yesterday. It was all over the news, and terrifying for quite a few people. Most of my breast augmentation and reconstruction patients do NOT have textured implants, but those few with 410 implants DO have textured implants.
What you need to know:
- They did this recall out of an abundance of caution.
- The FDA is telling women who have no symptoms to NOT remove their implants because of the risk.
- If you get ALCL, it usually presents with a seroma (a fluid collection). You would know there was an issue because your breast would suddenly get a lot larger quickly. It tends to be noticeable and can be painful from the stretching of the skin.
- The treatment is removal of the entire capsule.
- The risk of ALCL is 1:3,200 to 1:30,000.
To read about how to diagnose and treat ALCL if it presents, please see my in detail blog on it HERE.
To see Allergan’s statement, please read here:
“7.24.2019 | Investors
Allergan Voluntarily Recalls BIOCELL® Textured Breast Implants and Tissue Expanders
— Global Action Follows Notification of Updated Safety Information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) —
–– FDA Does Not Recommend Removal or Replacement of Textured Breast Implants in Asymptomatic Patients —
— Smooth and MICROCELL® Breast Implants and Tissue Expanders Not Impacted —
DUBLIN, July 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) today announced a voluntary worldwide recall of BIOCELL® textured breast implants and tissue expanders. Allergan is taking this action as a precaution following notification of recently updated global safety information concerning the uncommon incidence of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”