Breast implants are used to augment the size of natural breasts or to reconstruct breasts following a mastectomy. But certain breast implants may actually place patients at serious risk.

An increasing number of women with breast implants are reporting side effects. Reported complications range from unexplained weight gain to migraines to a condition known as “breast implant illness.”

A woman alleging saline breast implant illness addressed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Public Advisory Committee earlier this year.

Terry D. received breast implants in 2006, a decision she made after nursing three babies. At the time, Terry’s surgeon told her saline implants were safe and would last her a lifetime, with the exception of a rupture if the implant was hit too hard.

But just two months after getting her implants, Terry said she began suffering complications, including migraines and unexplained weight gain. Then she developed a slew of autoimmune issues that left her “bedridden and waiting to die.” The symptoms Terry described are the same ones often described by other women as breast implant illness.

It wasn’t just the physical side effects of the saline breast implant illness that Terry experienced. She said she has undergone financial ruin as well.

“Breast implant illness has cost me everything,” Terry told the FDA Public Advisory Committee. “I had to close my thriving business, and I’m in the process of being accepted into Chapter 13 and home loan modification, but still may lose my home. I can no longer afford health insurance or medical care. Today, I’m no longer bedridden and about 85 percent better, and the only medical procedure I had was explantation of my implants. I lost 10 years of my life due to ‘safe’ implants.”

Other patients have come forward with allegations that their breast implants caused a type of cancer known as breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). The FDA first made the association between breast implants the disease in 2011.

Textured surface breast implants are most associated with these illnesses, and patients like Terry are now calling for these products to be taken off the U.S. market. In July, the FDA requested that Allergan voluntarily recall certain textured breast implants from the market.

Filing a Breast Implant Illness Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has suffered from saline breast implant illness, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these complications, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially while dealing with these or other serious complications, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Learn More

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.