Suffering from the traumatic and heartbreaking diagnosis of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) after receiving Allergan breast implants leaves women and their loved ones feeling distressed, overwhelmed, and frustrated.
Women are often unsure of what they can do to seek justice for their pain and suffering, how to determine if they are eligible to file a lawsuit, and who they can turn to for help.
Working with a compassionate and knowledgeable product liability lawyer will help you manage the challenging situation of being diagnosed with BIA-ALCL because of your Allergan breast implants. A dependable and trustworthy lawyer will make sure your rights are protected during this complicated and disheartening time while helping you attain justice and fair compensation for your distressing and painful situation.
At Lawsuits.com, our network of lawyers can help you and your loved ones navigate this unfortunate time and attain the justice you deserve. Contact Lawsuits.com today at (888) 984-6195, and let us connect you with a local product liability lawyer.
How Do I Join the Allergan Breast Implant Lawsuit?
If you were diagnosed with BIA-ALCL after receiving Allergan textured breast implants, you may qualify to file a lawsuit. Start by consulting a product liability lawyer to review your case, gather evidence like medical records and implant details, and ensure your claim is filed within your state’s statute of limitations.
Which Allergan Breast Implants Were Recalled?
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently requested that Allergan recall its BIOCELL textured breast implant products due to a discovered association with women developing breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).
Allergan issued a voluntary recall for all BIOCELL textured implants, both saline-filled and silicone-filled, as well as tissue expanders. Styles of textured implants and tissue expanders recalled include
- Natrelle Saline breast implants
- Natrelle and McGhan 410 breast implants
- Natrelle and McGhan 410 Soft Touch breast implants
- Natrelle 510 Dual-Gel
- Natrelle INSPIRA breast implants
- Natrelle and McGhan Round Gel Implants
- Natrelle Komuro breast implants
- Natrelle Ritz Princess breast implants
- Natrelle 150 Full Height and Short Height double lumen implants
- Natrelle 133 tissue expanders with and without suture tabs
- Natrelle 133 Plus tissue expanders
Allergan noted that its NATRELLE smooth and MICROCELL breast implants and tissue expanders were not included in the recall.
What Does the Recall Do?
The recall of Allergan textured breast implants and tissue expanders removes all associated unused products from suppliers and doctors’ offices.
While the recall aims to prevent these products from being implanted during future procedures, it cannot prevent harm to women who have already received the recalled implants and tissue expanders.
What Do I Do If I Already Have Allergan Implants?
Learning of the Allergan textured breast implant and tissue expander recall after already receiving them in a procedure is an unsettling discovery for many women.
The FDA issued a safety communication for women who have already received these products. The agency advises women with recalled Allergan textured breast implants and tissue expanders to follow the recommendations below.
- Talk to your healthcare provider immediately if you have any questions or concerns regarding the Allergan recall and the risk of developing BIA-ALCL.
- The FDA does not advise having the implants or expanders removed if you are not showing any signs or symptoms of BIA-ALCL.
- Educate yourself on the symptoms of BIA-ALCL and continue to monitor the area around your implants for any changes, understanding that most cases develop years after receiving the implants.
- Document the details of the textured breast implant or tissue expanders you received, including the device manufacturer, the unique device identifier, and the implant model name.
- If you notice any symptoms of BIA-ALCL or any other changes in your body, talk to your healthcare provider and schedule a formal health evaluation.
- If your healthcare provider confirms you have BIA-ALCL, have the implant and surrounding scar capsule surgically removed.
If you or your loved one have been diagnosed with BIA-ALCL after receiving Allergan textured breast implants or tissue expanders, contact Lawsuits.com today. Let us connect you with a trusted local product liability lawyer so that you can attain the justice you deserve for your pain and suffering.
What Is BIA-ALCL?
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. BIA-ALCL is not a form of breast cancer but rather a cancer of the immune system.
Instances of BIA-ALCL have been found present in the scar tissue and fluid that surround breast implants. When left untreated or undiscovered, BIA-ALCL is able to spread throughout the body and can result in death.
Risks of BIA-ALCL Associated with Allergan Breast Implants
In a recent analysis, the FDA identified 481 cases of BIA-ALCL that were attributed to Allergan breast implants out of a total of 573 cases. The FDA reports that a total of 33 deaths were associated with BIA-ALCL from breast implants. Of these deaths, the manufacturer of the implants was known for 13 of the patients. A total of 12 out of the 13 patients were confirmed to have had an Allergan breast implant at the time of their BIA-ALCL diagnosis.
The FDA estimates that a person who receives Allergan BIOCELL textured implants experiences a risk of developing BIA-ALCL at a rate of six times higher than the risk associated with textured breast implants produced by other manufacturers that market their implants in the United States.
Signs and Symptoms of BIA-ALCL
Many women are unsure of what signs and symptoms of BIA-ALCL to monitor their body for after receiving Allergan textured breast implants or tissue expanders.
According to the FDA, there are a few main signs and symptoms for people to be aware of regarding BIA-ALCL:
- Swelling
- Existence of a mass in the area of the implant
- Pain felt in the area of the implant
Evaluations by healthcare providers can find additional signs of BIA-ALCL:
- Fluid collection around the breast implant
- Development of a lump under the skin
- Development of a thick and noticeable scar capsule surrounding the breast implant
Symptoms of BIA-ALCL typically do not develop immediately after receiving the implants. They frequently take years to develop after the implant is placed and the area has healed.
How Is BIA-ALCL Treated?
Learning of the development of BIA-ALCL is a terrifying and heartbreaking experience that leaves many women facing a devastating road to recovery through painful cancer treatments.
Depending on the severity of the cancer, healthcare professionals treat BIA-ALCL through
- Surgical removal of the breast implant and the surrounding scar tissue
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
If you or your loved one are undergoing treatment BIA-ALCL after receiving Allergan textured breast implants or tissue expanders, contact Lawsuits.com today. Let us connect you with a trusted local product liability lawyer so that you can attain the justice you deserve for your pain and suffering.
Can I Receive Compensation for Being Diagnosed With BIA-ALCL After Receiving Allergan Breast Implants?
Learning of a BIA-ALCL diagnosis after receiving the Allergan breast implants commonly leaves most women feeling frustrated and distraught.
If you or your loved one has developed BIA-ALCL from receiving the Allergan breast implants, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages.
Recoverable damages include
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Medical bills and expenses, both present and future
- Loss of wages, both present and future
- Loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death
- Punitive damages
Contact Lawsuits.com today if you or your loved one has been suffering from BIA-ALCL as a result of receiving Allergan breast implants. Let us connect you with a local product liability lawyer to help you get the care, justice, and compensation you deserve.
What Is a Product Liability Claim?
When a defective or malfunctioning product causes a person to endure harm, suffering, or pain, that person can pursue a product liability claim to seek justice for their damages.
Product liability defects fall into three main categories:
- Manufacturing defects occur when a product is improperly manufactured, and the final product differs from the end design. Typical examples are unstable furniture, faulty wiring, or defective airbags in a car.
- Design defects occur when a mistake or error is made during the product's design phase. Common instances of design defects include dangerous mixes of prescription drug ingredients and choking hazards in toys made for children or infants.
- Marketing defects, or insufficient label or warning defects, occur when a business does not adequately warn its customers of the potential hazards of using its product. Common examples of marketing defects include a company not disclosing the possible side effects of a medicine or not providing a warning label for an item that becomes hot.
Contact Lawsuits.com today if you or your loved one has been diagnosed with BIA-ALCL after receiving the Allergan breast implants. Let us connect you with a local product liability lawyer so that you can get the help, justice, and compensation you deserve.
Can I File a Lawsuit for My Allergan Breast Implants?
Being diagnosed with breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) after receiving Allergan breast implants is a terrifying and heartbreaking situation for many women. The news of their cancer diagnosis leaves most women feeling distraught, overwhelmed, and angry.
Most women are unsure of what they can do to seek justice for their pain and suffering, how to determine if they are eligible to file a lawsuit, and who they can turn to for help.
If you have received a diagnosis for BIA-ALCL after receiving Allergan breast implants, you can file a lawsuit to seek justice for your pain and suffering.
Working with a compassionate and well-versed product liability lawyer will help ease the stress of your pursuit of justice, allowing you and your loved ones to focus better on getting your health and your life back on track.
It is essential to contact an attorney as soon as possible after discovering your cancer diagnosis as a result of the Allergan breast implants to ensure you file your lawsuit within your state’s statute of limitations.
Your dependable legal team will work tirelessly on your behalf to help you attain justice for your wrongful damages through a series of diligent steps.
Gathering Evidence
Your professional legal team will gather evidence to help strengthen your case.
Gather documentation for as many items as possible associated with your BIA-ALCL, including
- Documentation confirming you received Allergan breast implants or tissue expanders
- Photos and videos of the symptoms and side effects caused by the implants or expanders
- A journal detailing all the adverse health effects you have experienced from receiving Allergan breast implants or tissue expanders, including any emotional suffering you have also endured as a result
- Doctors’ notes and treatment plans for your BIA-ALCL that resulted from the Allergan textured breast implants or tissue expanders
- A list of all associated expenses
Proving Fault
Companies will commonly try to dispute any fault associated with harmful side effects or health complications that may arise from the use of their products.
Working with an assertive and dependable legal team will help strengthen your case against the defending company’s tactics. Your local lawyers will prove that the cause of your BIA-ALCL resulted from the Allergan breast implants. They will provide adequate evidence to strengthen your case, including the documentation you provided, published medical case reports, and testimony or witness statements from knowledgeable professionals on the matter.
Managing the Lawsuit
Your professional legal team will manage the lawsuit on your behalf throughout its entirety, including filing the lawsuit, handling all correspondence with third parties, and negotiating a settlement offer.
They will keep you updated throughout the entire process and answer all questions and concerns you have regarding your case.
Your local lawyers will fight on your behalf to ensure you recover compensation for all of the damages associated with your cancer diagnoses from receiving the Allergan breast implants, including physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, medical bills and expenses, loss of wages and future earnings, loss of quality of life, punitive damages, and the wrongful death of a loved one.
Contact Lawsuits.com today if you or your loved one has suffered from BIA-ALCL as a result of receiving the Allergan breast implants. Let us connect you with a skilled product liability lawyer in your area to help you get the justice you deserve.
Work With a Trusted Product Liability Lawyer
Suffering through a painful diagnosis of BIA-ALCL as a result of receiving the Allergan breast implants is a traumatic and distressing experience for most women.
Working with a trusted product liability accident lawyer will help you and your loved ones ease the stress of the legal process while protecting your rights and maximizing your chances of recovering compensation for your damages.
If you or your loved one have suffered a cancer diagnosis from receiving the Allergan breast implants, contact Lawsuits.com today at (888) 984-6195. Let us connect you with a trusted local product liability lawyer so that you can attain the justice you deserve for your pain and suffering.