Allergan textured breast implants pulled from the U.S. market
Today’s news was no surprise. Textured implants from the manufacturer Allergan were pulled from the U.S. market, following the UK, France and Canada.
I have never been a fan of textured implants and I don’t use them in my practice. The gel is too stiff, being the most highly cohesive gel. The textured surface has a Velcro-like effect, causing scar tissue to stick directly to it and limiting movement of the implant in the pocket. They also can have more rippling that tends to be visible through the skin due to the scar tissue sticking to the implant surface.
And now that there is ongoing review into cases of a very rare subtype of lymphoma called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (bia-ALCL), it just makes sense for the manufacturer to stop selling them.
But I do use Allergan implants, all the time! The Allergan breast implants I use are smooth round silicone gel breast implants . Learn more about the breast implants I use in my practice here.
Here is the press release, hot off the wire:
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What does this mean for women who already have textured implants in place? Don’t panic. Educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of ALCL in the resources listed in my ALCL blog post. See a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for evaluation, and stay informed about further information as it is available.
To learn more, visit my website or call 415-923-3067 for additional information.
Karen M. Horton, MD, MSc, FACS, FRCSC
San Francisco Board Certified Plastic Surgeon