We are breaking up our regularly scheduled weekly blog post to bring you some very important information about the recent recall of textured breast implants from Allergan. Patient safety is of utmost importance to Dr. Slenkovich and his whole team. Please continue reading below for our very first version of Discussions with Doc.
This week (7/24/2019) Allergan removed their textured Biocell implant from the market. These implants are linked to higher risks of BIA-ALCL. BIA-ALCL is a rare cancer that has only been documented thus far in textured implants and is very treatable when caught early. Only about 10% of implants used nationwide fall into this category of implant. There have been 688 recognized cases of BIA-ALCL in the entire world to date, of the millions of patients that have received breast implants. Symptoms of the condition may include swelling, redness, changes in firmness or lumps around one or both implant(s). If you are experiencing these or any other symptoms, please contact us. In the vast majority of patients, these symptoms are not serious and may or may not require treatment.
At Colorado Plastic Surgery Center, we stopped using these textured implants around 2 years ago when we heard about this increased risk. You should be aware of what type of implants you have and monitor your breasts for changes. If you are unsure of what type of implants you have, please reach out to me or to whoever your plastic surgeon is and obtain that information. It is important to understand that it is not recommended that you have your implant removed if you have not noticed any changes or discomfort. However, it is always a good idea to monitor your breasts whether you are a breast augmentation patient or not. The rate of developing ALCL from Allergan Biocell textured implants is 1 in every 2,800 patients. For reference, the rate of developing breast cancer in any person, with or without implants, is 1 in every 8.
We are dedicated to keeping you educated and we will continue to release statements about any new information as it unfolds. This information may be alarming initially, but we are here to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
I have filmed two in depth videos about this issue. Please watch them here:
Warm regards,
Dr. Nick Slenkovich & Team
