A Separate and Compelling Plaintiff Class
Among the women harmed by Allergan's BIOCELL recall, those who received textured implants as part of breast cancer reconstruction after mastectomy represent a uniquely compelling plaintiff class. These women underwent breast surgery to fight cancer — a deeply traumatic experience — and then received BIOCELL tissue expanders or implants (including the Natrelle 410 and Natrelle 133 tissue expander) as part of their reconstruction. They trusted that the medical devices used in their cancer recovery were safe. The recall forced many of these women to confront the prospect of additional surgery to remove the implants they received during their cancer treatment, compounding physical and emotional trauma. Women who subsequently developed BIA-ALCL after post-mastectomy reconstruction faced a second cancer diagnosis — with distinctive, powerful damages narratives.
BIOCELL Tissue Expanders — A Key Reconstruction Product
Allergan's Natrelle 133 BIOCELL tissue expanders were commonly used in two-stage breast reconstruction. In the first stage, after mastectomy, surgeons place a tissue expander under the chest muscle to gradually stretch the skin and muscle in preparation for a permanent implant. The Natrelle 133 uses the same BIOCELL macro-textured surface as Allergan's breast implants and was included in the July 2019 recall. Women who had BIOCELL tissue expanders placed — even if they were subsequently exchanged for smooth permanent implants — may have a claim based on the period of BIOCELL exposure during the expansion phase. This is a less frequently pursued claim that deserves attorney evaluation for women with a documented BIOCELL tissue expander history.
Insurance, Coverage, and Reconstruction Complications After the Recall
Reconstruction patients face compounded complexities when Allergan BIOCELL implants are recalled. Post-mastectomy explantation involves surgical risks that differ from cosmetic explant surgery, including risk to tissue expander pockets, chest wall reconstruction, and the potential need for re-reconstruction with autologous tissue (such as TRAM flap or DIEP flap procedures) for women who cannot or choose not to replace with new implants. Insurance coverage for recall-driven explantation is inconsistent — some insurers cover it as medically necessary, others do not. The costs of explantation, re-reconstruction, and related surgeries are recoverable as economic damages in MDL 2921 claims. Women in this category who developed BIA-ALCL face the full spectrum of cancer-related damages on top of reconstruction complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
BIA-ALCL is not breast cancer — it is a T-cell lymphoma of the immune system that develops in the fluid or capsule surrounding Allergan BIOCELL textured implants. It is often curable when caught early, but advanced stages require chemotherapy and carry serious health consequences.
Learn moreBIA-ALCL staging — from Stage IA (confined to seroma fluid) through Stage IV (distant metastases) — is the single most important factor in determining the value of an Allergan breast implant lawsuit. Early-stage cases are curable; advanced stages require chemotherapy and carry worse prognosis and significantly higher compensation.
Learn moreThe July 24, 2019 Allergan BIOCELL recall was the largest breast implant recall in FDA history. It covered 33+ product lines after the FDA determined BIOCELL recipients faced a 6x elevated risk of BIA-ALCL lymphoma. French regulators had recalled the same product a year earlier in 2018.
Learn moreBreast implant illness (BII) is a constellation of systemic symptoms — fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, hair loss — reported by implant patients. Unlike BIA-ALCL, BII is not yet a formally recognized diagnosis, but BII plaintiffs with Allergan BIOCELL implants are included in MDL 2921 litigation.
Learn moreThe Allergan Natrelle 410 Highly Cohesive Anatomically Shaped implant was the most widely used recalled product and is at the center of MDL 2921. McGhan textured implants — an earlier Allergan brand — are also covered by the July 2019 recall. If you received either product, you may have a claim.
Learn moreThe FDA does not recommend prophylactic removal of Allergan BIOCELL implants for asymptomatic patients. However, women who chose explantation after the recall may have legal claims for surgery costs. Women with BIA-ALCL symptoms require immediate medical evaluation — not observation.
Learn moreNo global Allergan BIOCELL settlement has been announced as of February 2026. The October 2026 bellwether trial will drive settlement negotiations. Based on comparable medical device MDLs, BIA-ALCL Stage IA cases may settle in the $50,000–$300,000 range; Stage IV cases may command $1,000,000–$3,000,000 or more.
Learn moreThe statute of limitations for Allergan BIOCELL claims is typically 2 to 3 years from discovery — meaning from BIA-ALCL diagnosis, not from implant placement or recall date. Discovery rule protections apply in most states. Consult an attorney immediately — deadlines are strict and MDL tolling is not automatic.
Learn moreYou may qualify if you received Allergan BIOCELL textured implants (for augmentation or reconstruction), were diagnosed with BIA-ALCL, or had your implants removed due to the recall. You do not need a cancer diagnosis to file. Implants already removed do not disqualify you.
Learn moreAllergan Breast Implant Lawsuit Lawsuit
Allergan (now owned by AbbVie) manufactured BIOCELL textured breast implants — including the widely used Natrelle 410 — that were found to cause breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare but serious T-cell lymphoma of the immune system. The FDA determined that women with Allergan BIOCELL implants were approximately six times more likely to develop BIA-ALCL than women with implants from other manufacturers. On July 24, 2019, Allergan initiated a worldwide recall of all BIOCELL textured breast implants and tissue expanders. As of June 2023, the FDA had received 1,264 BIA-ALCL reports globally, with 1,079 — representing 85% of all cases — involving Allergan implants. Sixty-three deaths have been reported, with 37 linked to Allergan products. MDL 2921, In re Allergan BIOCELL Textured Breast Implant Products Liability Litigation, is pending before Judge Michael Martinotti in the District of New Jersey with approximately 1,400 cases. The first bellwether trial is scheduled for October 2026. Women who received Allergan BIOCELL textured implants, were diagnosed with BIA-ALCL, or underwent implant removal due to the recall may have viable legal claims.
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