Case type Defective Medical Devices
Breast Implant Illness & BIA-ALCL
Diagnosed with BIA-ALCL, or sick after breast implants? Tell us your story.
CBW Law reviews claims from people diagnosed with breast implant-associated lymphoma and from people with documented complications after implants. Tell Us Your Story. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Breast implant illness and BIA-ALCL are often mentioned together, but they are different. BIA-ALCL is a lymphoma that can form near an implant, more often with textured implants, and it is diagnosed with lab testing. Breast implant illness describes symptoms throughout the body whose cause is still unclear. A breast implant lawyer looks at the full implant history and what doctors have found.
Two different concerns
People with breast implants sometimes hear two terms used together, but they mean very different things:
- Breast implant illness (BII): a name patients and some doctors use for a range of symptoms throughout the body that people report after getting implants.
- BIA-ALCL: a specific cancer of the immune system that can develop near an implant. It is diagnosed by testing fluid or tissue.
A review treats these separately. Someone with a confirmed BIA-ALCL diagnosis, someone being tested for it, and someone with systemic symptoms but no lymphoma are in different situations.
What BIA-ALCL is
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma is not breast cancer. It is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system. In most cases it is found in the scar tissue and fluid near the implant, but it can spread through the body. The FDA describes an individual's risk as low but notes the cancer is serious and can lead to death, especially if it isn't treated promptly. Most patients are treated successfully with surgery to remove the implant and the surrounding scar tissue; some also need chemotherapy or radiation1.
Symptoms
The main symptoms are persistent swelling, a mass or pain near the implant. They often appear years after the implant was placed. A doctor often finds fluid collected around the implant, called a seroma1.
Textured implants
The FDA has determined that the risk of BIA-ALCL is higher with textured-surface implants than with smooth ones. It also says certain textured tissue expanders, temporary devices used before reconstruction, should not be used1. Because of that, a review asks about every implant and expander a person has had, not only the current one.
The 2019 Allergan BIOCELL recall
On July 24, 2019, at the FDA's request, Allergan began a worldwide recall of its BIOCELL textured breast implants and Natrelle 133 tissue expanders. The FDA said its analysis showed the risk of BIA-ALCL with BIOCELL implants was about six times the risk with textured implants from other manufacturers sold in the U.S. The recall removed unused products from suppliers and doctors' offices2.
The FDA said it does not recommend removing implants from people who have no symptoms, because removal carries its own risks2. Anyone with implants who notices swelling, a lump or pain near an implant should see a doctor.
In October 2021, the FDA restricted the sale and distribution of breast implants to make sure patients receive risk information before surgery, and approved updated labeling3.
Key dates
Breast implant illness
The FDA says patients and clinicians use "breast implant illness" for systemic symptoms such as fatigue, memory or concentration problems, joint and muscle pain, hair loss, weight changes, anxiety and depression. These symptoms have been reported with all types of implants, regardless of fill, shape or surface. Some patients report improvement after removal. But the FDA says the cause of the symptoms, and how much they relate to implants, is unclear, and that BII is not a formal medical diagnosis with specific tests or criteria4.
That uncertainty matters for any claim. A BII review looks closely at the implant history, the timing of symptoms, what doctors evaluated and ruled out, and what was found if implants were removed. It doesn't assume that removal will resolve symptoms.
Other breast implant complications
The FDA lists other risks of breast implants, including capsular contracture (scar tissue that tightens around the implant), rupture and deflation, and additional surgeries. It has also reported cases of squamous cell carcinoma and other lymphomas found in the scar capsule around implants5.
BIA-ALCL at a glance
Breast implant litigation
Federal cases over Allergan BIOCELL textured implants are coordinated in MDL No. 2921 before Judge Brian R. Martinotti in the District of New Jersey. The JPML's Nov. 2, 2026 report lists 1,370 actions pending and 1,586 total6. An MDL coordinates individual cases and is not a class action or a settlement7.
Who may have a breast implant claim
- A BIA-ALCL diagnosis confirmed by pathology
- Treatment for BIA-ALCL, including implant and capsule removal, chemotherapy or radiation
- A history of textured implants or textured tissue expanders
- Removal or revision surgery with documented findings
- Systemic symptoms evaluated by doctors, with a clear timeline
Who may be responsible
An investigation may look at the companies that made each implant and expander, based on the product's surface, its labeling, recalls and when it was placed. Surgical care questions are reviewed separately.
Filing deadlines for breast implant lawsuits
Deadlines depend on your state and on when you learned of the diagnosis and its possible cause. Examples:
- Arizona: generally two years for personal injury and wrongful death8.
- California: two years for injury to or death of a person caused by another's wrongful act or neglect9.
- New York: three years for personal injury10, with a separate rule that runs from discovery for injuries caused by the latent effects of exposure to a substance in the body11.
- Texas: two years for personal injury and wrongful death12, and most product liability claims must be brought within 15 years of the product's sale13.
When the clock starts can depend on when a person knew, or should have known, about the injury and its possible cause. Rules for minors, wrongful death and claims against public hospitals can differ. A device that was part of an earlier settlement can raise its own questions. Ask a medical device attorney to check the rules for your state early, before records are lost.
Records that help a breast implant review
Records worth gathering
Implant history
- Implant cards for every implant and expander
- Original and replacement operative reports
- Model, style and lot numbers
Diagnosis
- Fluid or tissue pathology
- Oncology records
- Imaging
Removal
- Explant operative report
- Capsule pathology
- A timeline of symptoms
What happens after you contact CBW Law
How a review works
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Tell us what happened
Share what you remember about the implants, the problem and the treatment that followed. You do not need every record first.
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We identify the device
We work to confirm the maker, model and lot or serial number, and whether any recall or safety notice covers it.
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We gather records
With your permission, we request operative reports, imaging, device data and other records from your providers.
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We explain what we see
We tell you what the records show, what questions remain and what options may be open, including deadlines.
Having implants, or having had a recalled implant, is not by itself a claim. A diagnosis, the implant history and the records come first.
Plain English
Medical, Health & Insurance
Terms you may see in a breast implant case.
Implant terms
- Textured implant
- An implant with a rough outer surface; linked to higher BIA-ALCL risk1.
- Tissue expander
- A temporary implant used to stretch tissue before reconstruction.
- Capsule
- The scar tissue that forms around an implant.
Diagnosis
- Seroma
- Fluid that collects around the implant.
- CD30
- A protein that labs test for when diagnosing BIA-ALCL.
Treatment
- Explant
- Surgery to remove an implant.
- Capsulectomy
- Surgery to remove the scar capsule around an implant.
Questions
Breast implant lawsuit questions
Short answers to the questions people ask first.
Is BIA-ALCL breast cancer?
No. The FDA describes it as a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system, usually found near the implant.
Does breast implant illness mean I have lymphoma?
No. BII describes systemic symptoms; BIA-ALCL is a specific cancer diagnosed by testing.
Why does implant texture matter?
The FDA has found BIA-ALCL risk is higher with textured-surface implants than with smooth ones.
Should I have my implants removed?
The FDA does not recommend removal for people without symptoms. Talk to your doctor about any swelling, lump or pain.
What if my original implant was replaced?
Every implant and expander matters, including ones that were removed. Bring the full history to a review.
Do I need a breast implant lawyer if I was diagnosed with BIA-ALCL?
A breast implant lawyer can review the diagnosis, the implant history and any recall to explain options and deadlines.
Is there a breast implant class action?
Federal Allergan BIOCELL cases are in multidistrict litigation, MDL No. 2921, which coordinates individual cases.
Will removing implants cure BII symptoms?
Some people report improvement, but the FDA says the cause of these symptoms and their link to implants are unclear.
How long do I have to file a breast implant lawsuit?
It depends on your state and on when you learned of the diagnosis and its possible cause. A breast implant attorney can check.
What does it cost to contact CBW Law?
Telling us your story costs nothing, and contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Tell Us Your Story
If you were diagnosed with BIA-ALCL or had documented complications after breast implants, a breast implant attorney can review what happened.
Tell us what happened. CBW Law will review your information and explain what we see. Submitting information does not establish an attorney-client relationship or guarantee representation.
Tell Us Your Story Call (800) 476-2416
This page is general information about breast implant illness and BIA-ALCL. It is not legal or medical advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Having implants, having had a recalled implant or having symptoms does not, by itself, establish that an implant caused an illness or that anyone is legally responsible. Talk to your doctor before any decision about your implants. Laws and deadlines differ by state, and no outcome can be promised.