MISSOULA — Doctors across Montana are fielding a lot of questions from worried patients after the FDA asked a breast implant maker to recall its product.
The FDA say there’s global studies showing Allergan's BIOCELL textured breast implants are linked to a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The recall also includes the company’s tissue expanders.
Those products are now off the market.
We sat down with Doctor Bradley Coots at Lift Plastic Surgery in Missoula who says many companies offer textured implants but this particular “make and model” has the FDA’s attention.
"The Allergan implants are thought to be about six times more likely to be linked to these breast implant associated acute large cell lymphoma," Dr. Coots said.
"Each of the implant manufacturer have developed a different type of texture. The Allergan texture is larger it’s a macro type and they believe that it likely causes more inflammation and that’s what is mediating this lymphoma," he explained.
If you’re concerned, the first thing to do is check your implant card you received after your surgery that will tell you what kind of implant you have -- or you can contact the surgeon or facility that did your surgery.
Symptoms of this kind of cancer are primarily persistent swelling or pain near the breast implant . It's important to monitor the area for any changes and always check with your doctor if you have questions.
Textured implants help prevent the implant from rotating. Implants are used for both breast enhancement or reconstruction after cancer surgery.
Click here for more information on the recalls.
