Davis

Textured breast implants made by Allergan that have been linked to a rare cancer are being recalled in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to The New York Times, 573 cases and 33 deaths from the cancer have been reported worldwide, with 481 of the cases clearly attributed to the Allergan Biocell implants. Of the 33 deaths, the FDA said the type of implant was known in 13 cases, and in 12 of those the maker was Allergan.

While the Allergan breast implant recall is newsworthy, the cancer is rare, considering that millions of women have breast implants. Breast augmentation is perennially the most popular cosmetic surgery performed in the United States. In 2018, more than 313,000 procedures were performed, a 4% increase over 2017, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

The anaplastic large-cell lymphoma is a rare cancer of the immune system. It is usually found within the fibrous scar capsule near the implant or in the fluid surrounding the implant, according to the FDA. It is not in the breast tissue itself, and it is not breast cancer. Researchers have not been able to explain the link between the Allergan Biocell implants and the rare cancer, according to The New York Times.

However, in most cases, removing the implant and the scar tissue around it cures the cancer. But if it is not detected early, it can spread.

Do I need to do anything?

The main symptoms of the lymphoma are usually swelling and fluid accumulation around the implant. There may also be some tenderness, which shouldn’t be confused for post-surgery soreness. The latter is normal.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, see your plastic surgeon. If that’s not practical, consult another plastic surgeon near you. Either way, your doctor will likely recommend an ultrasound or MRI.

If you have Allergan Biocell implants, but no symptoms, you don’t need to have them removed, the FDA says. The recall means that doctors and hospitals should not implant any more of them and should return any in their inventory to Allergan.

Allergan Biocell Implants? What if I don’t know which kind of implants I have?

The contents of the implant, silicone or saline, are not a factor in the lymphoma, the FDA says. The shell, which can be either smooth or textured, is the key. Textured implants, which have a slightly roughened surface that adheres to breast tissue and helps hold the implant in place, have been singled out as the cause.

It’s important to note, however, that the recall only affects the Allergan Biocell textured implants, not all textured implants. The Allergan Biocell implants carry a risk that is about six times that of other textured implants sold in the United States, according to the FDA. Allergan’s textured implants account for only about 5% of the implants used in the United States, according to The New York Times.

If you’re not sure what kind of implants you have, consult your plastic surgeon. Again, if that’s not practical, see a plastic surgeon near you. Even if they can’t tell you the type, they’ll conduct a physical exam to see if you’re having any issues with your implants.

If you’ve spent any time at the shore this summer, you were probably at least a little distracted by your cellulite.

You’re far from alone. Cellulite affects nine out of 10 women, according to some estimates. And it’s the thing that most of them would most like to change about their bodies.

Cellulite is caused by a shortening of fibrous tissue cords in the skin, not as a side effect of weight gain, as is so often thought. The tightening pushes fatty tissue up to the skin’s surface, creating the notorious dimpling effect. It becomes more common with age, but it can appear as early as right after puberty in some women.

If you, like so many others, have fantasized about getting rid of your cellulite, allow me to introduce you to BodyTite, a state-of-the-art treatment that tightens skin and reduces fat in targeted areas of the body.

Less fat and tighter skin

So, what is BodyTite, exactly? It’s a minimally-invasive body contouring procedure that delivers the sort of results that previously were only possible through more invasive surgical procedures. Using radio frequency energy, BodyTite tightens skin, stimulates collagen production, and improves the contours of the body.

It’s being used to tighten and sculpt the abdomen, arms, breasts, thighs, love handles, and knees. It’s also an effective means of getting rid of cellulite.

A local anesthetic is administered to the treatment area. The plastic surgeon then inserts a small cannula that delivers the radio frequency energy through a tiny incision. The energy liquefies fat and makes the surrounding tissue and skin contract. The fat is then suctioned out through the cannula.

Long-lasting results

Aside from the virtually undetectable scars and total lack of stitches, BodyTite is considered to be an upgrade from liposuction because, while the latter effectively removes fat, a lift to remove the excess skin is also needed in many cases. BodyTite, by contrast, firms skin from 10% to 40%, which is enough to help skin bounce back if you’ve had 10 to 20 pounds removed.

It’s also an effective way to treat skin laxity resulting from childbirth or aging.

Because of the minimally invasive nature of the procedure, BodyTite patients also experience less bruising, too. You may feel a little sore around the treated area immediately after, but you should be back to normal within a few days, if not sooner.

It’s a relatively minimal investment considering the results can last for years. Envision all those summer days ahead, poolside or on the beach, and you’re enjoying yourself, not worrying whether your cellulite is showing.

Allergan, the global pharmaceutical company, just issued a breast implant recall. Dr. Davis addresses the breast implant recall, ALCL and the Allergan textured breast implants.

Please contact Dr. Steven L. Davis, Cherry Hill Board Certified Plastic Surgeon at https://daviscps.com/breast-implant-recall with any questions.

[Official Allergan Press Release: Allergan Voluntarily Recalls BIOCELL® Textured Breast Implants and Tissue Expanders]
[FDA Article regarding Breast Implant Recall]

At Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, we’ve been getting a lot of phone calls and a lot of emails about patients that have breast implants. And this is because yesterday Allergan (7/24/19) which makes breast implants worldwide decided to pull off the market, any of the implants that have a textured surface to them. We wanted to make sure that we’re making a video and telling everyone out there that if you have any question as to what type of implant you may have, either I placed them or someone else that you may have gone to have implants placed for you, you should check to see what kind you have.

It’s a very rare disease. It is a lymphoma. It’s not breast cancer. It’s lymphoma. But the textured surface shell of the implant has been shown to possibly cause this lymphoma in a very small amount of patients, but it’s something to check. So this is a smooth texture. This a smooth implant is the texture surface implant. Most of the implants that I’ve placed in almost 30 years have all been smooth implants. However, some of them that may have been shaped like this may have needed a textured surface to them. The company that I used for this is not elegant for its textured surface. So for my my implants that I’ve placed, I would say patients still call so we can check your chart and make sure everything’s fine. But I getting more and more patients calling me that may have been located elsewhere20 years ago when they had their breast implants.

So just recently, as of yesterday, we had two patients that came in that had their implants placed one in California, and one in Denver, and we asked them to call their plastic surgeons see what implants they had placed. And then we would definitely take a look and make sure everything was okay. There are certain ultrasound tests that we can write for you to get that will also help see if there are any other concerns. But again, if you’re having no problems, just check with whomever put your breast implants in to make sure you know exactly what kind of implant you have.

Please feel free to contact our office at Davis cosmetic plastic surgery by using the below form if you have any questions about this breast implant recall or any other procedure.

[Listen to Dr. Davis discuss the Allergan Breast Impant recall on KYW Newsradio]

Contact Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

We’re constantly snapping photos and sharing them on social media, many of them of ourselves or, at least, including us. In the process, we’re giving ourselves a lot of material to scrutinize. And increasingly, many of us perceive ourselves through the lens of our own social media accounts.

There’s both good and bad to that. On one hand, it’s very reassuring to have a library of positive memories just a tap and a swipe away at any given moment. But it’s also compelling us to hold a microscope up to our own images and be more self-critical than ever before—even as we shape a sort of alternate reality in which they exist.

Because here’s the thing: Very rarely are we posting those photos without first applying a filter in Instagram or Snapchat or manipulating it in an editing app like FaceTune. Over the last few years, as it’s become commonplace, it’s also become clear that social media is shaping beauty trends and the way we see ourselves.

Another tool in the beauty arsenal

Coinciding with the rise of social media and our so-called “selfie culture” has been the growing acceptance of cosmetic surgery, particularly facial plastic surgery. Today, a growing majority of people in their twenties on up through middle age have come to perceive it as just another tool in their beauty arsenal.

Minimally-invasive treatments designed to help patients enhance their natural appearance have been at the forefront of that movement. They’ve grown 228% since 2000, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

A few, in particular, driven largely by our relentless pursuit of the ideal selfie, have become especially popular, including the non-surgical nose job, which is also commonly referred to as “liquid rhinoplasty.” A hyaluronic acid filler is injected into the nose to camouflage imperfections or improve its contour—all in a matter of 15 minutes. Depending on the filler used, results can last for one to two years.

Eyelid procedures designed to make you look less tired are another. In one such case, a hyaluronic acid filler is injected below the under-eye fat pocket, which makes the under-eye circles less prominent.

And platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, injections are being used for everything from “vampire facials” to helping with hair loss. The treatments have been around for a while, but the research supporting their effectiveness has been mounting over the last few years. The theory is that plasma, enriched with growth factors, can be used to rejuvenate and regenerate soft tissue.

A window into the patient’s mind

I know there’s a lot out there about how this obsession with selfies is signaling the beginning of the end, and I am concerned that “selfie culture” leading to unrealistic standards. But I’ve also found them helpful as a reference during consultations with my patients.

Based on what they tell me they like or don’t like about what they see in a given photo of themselves, it becomes easier for me to understand what they’re thinking and what they’re striving for. And that’s only going to improve the result.