Wednesday, July 24, breast implant maker Allergan Inc. issued a worldwide recall for their Biocell breast implants with a textured surface at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA said they required the recall after new information showed the textured implants account for a disproportionate amount of rare lymphoma cases. The company’s Biocell implants feature a textured surface design, created to help minimize scar tissue and to help prevent slippage. The models in question account for around 5% of implants on the U.S. market — the vast majority featuring a smooth surface.
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Textured implants were first linked to cancer in 2011, when researchers found that lymphoma may grow in the scar tissue surrounding the breasts. In May, the FDA said a national ban on textured implants was not necessary. As of Wednesday, however, that is no longer the case. According to the FDA, new data show a direct link between Allergan’s implants and cancer.
FDA deputy commissioner Amy Abernethy said in a statement, "Once the evidence indicated that a specific manufacturer's product appeared to be directly linked to significant patient harm, including death, the FDA took action.” The latest research shows more than 80% of the 570 confirmed cases of lymphoma worldwide have been linked to Allergen’s textured implants.
Many women who receive breast implants are unaware of some of the dangers associated with them. Any time you introduce a foreign material into your body, there's a potential for problems to develop. Both silicone and saline breast implants can cause serious health complications if they leak or rupture, either due to the chemicals and toxins in the silicone or implant shell, or due to bacterial and fungal growth.
Implants do not last a lifetime, so if you have them (whether they're silicone or saline), you can expect to have them removed or replaced in an average of eight to 10 years. If you get mammograms or are involved in a car accident or have other trauma to your chest wall, this time frame of relative safety may be even less, and the rate of leakage and rupture increases.
Whether you’re a woman who has, or is considering, breast implants, or you have a loved one who is, it’s always best to do your research and become fully aware of the dangers and risks so you’re able to make an informed decision.