Breast implant lawsuits accuse manufacturers of failing to test silicone breast implants for safety after the FDA lifted a 14-year ban in 2006, about a decade after $4 billion was paid to 450,000 women in a class action lawsuit settlement.
Need a Texas Breast Implant Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer or had a doctor suggest breast implant removal because of a predisposition to cancer, you should contact us you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
UPDATE: FDA Finds 733 Cases of Breast Implant Cancer, 36 Deaths Worldwide
As of January 2020, the FDA has identified a total of 733 cases and 36 deaths from breast implant cancer globally. The women were all diagnosed with breast implant-associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) worldwide. Out of the 733 cases of BIA-ALCL, 620 were women with breast implants made by Allergan.
Allergan Breast Implants Recalled in U.S.
July 2019 — Allergan has recalled all BIOCELL® textured breast implants in the U.S. after the FDA linked the implants with a 6-fold increased risk of ALCL and 24 more deaths.
Allergan previously recalled the implants in 38 countries, with Europe banning them in December 2018 and Canada issuing a recall in May 2019 .
The FDA has identified a total of 33 deaths and 573 cases of breast implant-associated ALCL worldwide, including 481 cases linked to Allergan’s recalled breast implants.
The following Allergan breast implants are now recalled in the U.S.:
- Textured Natrelle Inspira Breast Implants
- Natrelle 410 Breast Implants
- BRST Breast Implants
- Allergan Tissue Expanders 133Plus
FDA Links Breast Implants and Cancer
In January 2011, the FDA warned that breast implants may increase the risk of an immune-system cancer called Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL). This cancer is a rare but often aggressive type of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Breast Implants Linked to 500+ Reports of Lymphoma
The FDA warned that symptoms of ALCL may include pain, swelling, lumps, and seroma (fluid buildup around the implant). Furthermore, patients will likely need surgery to remove the implant if complications occur.
Most cases of breast implant-associated ALCL are treated by removal of the implant and the capsule surrounding the implant and some cases have been treated by chemotherapy and radiation.”
Textured Breast Implants Linked to Highest Risk of Cancer
Textured breast implants were significantly more likely to be linked to ALCL. Recent studies suggest that bacterial coatings (biofilm) on the textured surface may contribute to low-level infections, inflammation, scar-tissue, and immune system cancers like ALCL. Silicone breast implants were also linked to more cases of ALCL than saline-filled breast implants.
Risk of Breast Implant Rupture
Dr. Edward Melmed, a plastic surgeon in Dallas, Texas, called silicone breast implants an “industrial toxin” at an FDA meeting in 2011. He warned that 50% will rupture by 10 years, 72% by 15 years, and 92% by 20 years. He told CNN:
“Why is the FDA continuing to allow a device to be placed in young women that is guaranteed to fail 80% in 10 years? Would they allow that in hip replacements? Would they allow it in men?”
Mentor MemoryGel Breast Implant Lawsuits
In September 2016, a lawsuit (PDF) was filed by a woman from Seattle who experienced a wide range of health problems from Mentor MemoryGel breast implants leaking silicone.
In January 2017, another lawsuit was filed by a woman who says her silicone breast implants leaked and caused chronic pain, nausea, fatigue, skin rashes, and other side effects. Her lawyer told Bloomberg:
“We believe the problems with Mentor’s silicone implant are pervasive and may have harmed thousands of women. This suit may be just the tip of the iceberg.”
$4 Billion Breast Implant Lawsuit Settlements
Around 450,000 women filed lawsuits in the 1980s and 1990s for “silicone diseases” caused by breast implants. Several multi-million dollar jury verdicts and a $4 billion class action settlement put Dow Corning Corp. into bankruptcy in 1995. The settlement amounts averaged $26,000 per plaintiff (or around $20,000 for a ruptured implant and $5,000 for implant removal surgery) plus payouts of between $10,000 and $250,000 depending on disease symptoms.
List of FDA Approved Silicone Breast Implants
- Allergan Natrelle
- Allergan Natrelle 410
- Mentor MemoryGel
- Mentor MemoryShape
- Sientra Silicone Gel Breast Implants
“Ticking Time Bomb” In Millions Of Women’s Bodies
Breast implants are not lifetime devices. The risk of rupture increases over time. When a silicone breast implant bursts open, silicone gel leaks out and travels away from the breast. This can cause lumps to form in the breast, lymph nodes, chest, or armpit. It may be impossible to remove silicone from the body.
Breast Implant Silicone Poisoning
Silicone leaking out of breast implants is associated with “silicone sickness,” a toxic illness that occurs when the body absorbs silicone and triggers an immune system reaction. Leaking breast implants are known to cause local tissue inflammation. They might also increase the risk of a life-threatening connective tissue disease called scleroderma.
Symptoms of Leaking Breast Implants
- Breast pain
- Tissue hardening
- Breasts change size or shape
- Chronic fatigue, weakness
- Skin rash or hives
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Night sweats
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Memory loss or confusion
- Immune system dysfunction
New Wave of Breast Implant Lawsuits?
All silicone breast implants are Class III (“high risk”) medical devices that require Premarket Approval (PMA) from the FDA. In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court gave manufacturers of PMA-approved devices immunity from lawsuits in Rigel vs. Medtronic Inc..
That means lawsuits involving silicone breast implant injuries are generally preempted by federal law. Lawyers have a few ways to get around this rule. One way is by showing that a manufacturer violated terms of the PMA by misleading the FDA about a device’s safety.
FDA Lifts 14-Year Ban on Silicone Breast Implants
In April 1992, the FDA banned silicone breast implants after lawsuits raised safety concerns and manufacturers failed to provide safety data. The FDA lifted the 14-year ban in 2006, after manufacturers promised to complete several massive long-term safety studies in exchange for bein allowed to return silicone breast implants to the market.
Safety Studies Are Essentially Worthless
Mentor Worldwide, Allergan, and Sientra were each required by the FDA to complete six safety studies with 10 years of follow-up as a condition of PMA approval in 2006 — but the studies were so bad that the data is all but useless and rare complications were likely missed.
For example, Mentor was supposed to track 80,000 women who received their silicone breast implants for 10 years — but just three years into the study, Mentor “lost track” of 79% of women with silicone implants, making the study’s conclusions essentially worthless.
In comparison, Allergan enrolled over 57,000 women in a 10-year study — but just two years later, they “lost track” of 40% of women with silicone breast implants. According to the FDA:
“Studies to date do not show evidence that silicone gel-filled breast implants cause connective tissue disease, reproductive problems, or breast cancer. Low follow-up rates and other study limitations may limit interpretation of the data and preclude the detection of very rare complications.”
FDA Rejects Breast Implant Recall
The FDA became concerned about the studies in 2010 and proposed a recall due to the lack of long-term safety data and known complications. However, the recall was rejected in 2011 after the FDA had a meeting with plastic surgeons and industry leaders.
List of Breast Implant Complications
- Uneven breasts
- Breast or nipple pain
- Tissue disease
- Hard lumps
- Skin rash
- Mammogram misdiagnosis
- Surgery complications
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Necrosis (dead tissue)
- Breast sagging
- Implant rupture
- Hematoma or seroma
- Implant is visible, wrinkled, or rippled
- Scarring
- Infection
- Toxic Shock Syndrome
- Systemic sclerosis
- Additional surgery
Need a Breast Implant Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our Texas breast implant lawyers for a free lawsuit review.