Defective Breast Implants
If you are a victim of defective silicone or saline breast implants, let
our team of
attorneys and licensed insurance adjusters at Legally Pink Law can help you. Breast
implant surgery is a multi-billion dollar industry that, despite known
serious health risks to women, continues to thrive. Breast implants are
considered Class III medical devices of limited product life, which means
although they are surgically implanted in a woman's body, they are
not intended to last for her entire lifetime. While many defects in breast
implants become apparent soon after surgery, others remain hidden for years.
Diseases Linked to Breast Implants
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is tasked with approving and
monitoring the safety of breast implants in the United States. Various
studies performed by the FDA have linked breast implants to a wide variety
of serious health risks, including anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).
ALCL is generally found in the fibrous scar tissue, or a capsule that
develops between the implant and the rest of the breast. Symptoms of ALCL
can include pain, lumps, swelling, collection of fluid, hardening of the
breast area, masses surrounding the breast area, or asymmetry in and around
the implants. Despite the reported number of cases of ALCL related to
breast implants, the FDA continues to take the position that the number
of women with ALCL from breast implants is relatively small compared to
the overall population with these implants. As a result, the FDA considers
the use of breast implants to be "safe."
There are flaws in the FDA's logic, and despite recent efforts to urge
breast implant manufacturers to perform more studies and register their
implant products, they are still widely promoted as safe to consumers.
If you are a woman who is affected with ALCL, the overall numbers mean
nothing. The only thing that matters is that, through no fault of your
own, you have a deadly form of cancer as a result of defective breast implants.
In addition to ALCL, there are also possible links between defective breast
implants and the following diseases: lupus, scleroderma, fibromyalgia,
neurological diseases, autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome,
connective tissue diseases, and Sjögren's syndrome, among others.
Physical Breakdowns & Ruptures
A contributing factor to diseases and complications related to breast implants
are physical breakdowns and changes of the breast implants themselves.
For instance, contracture of a breast implant occurs when the scar tissue
that the body forms around the implant constricts it to the point that
it becomes painful and can distort the implant, the breast itself, or
both. Surgical release is usually required to correct this issue. Additionally,
rupture of a breast implant can occur. With saline implants, a rupture
is quickly identified, as the saline solution will quickly exit the implant,
causing it to deflate. In contrast, a rupture of a silicone breast implant
tends to leak slowly over time and often goes undetected. The silicone
solution will enter the body and can lead to serious health complications.
Regardless of the type of breast implant defect you are facing, rest assured
that we can help you. The impact of defective breast implants on your
life and your health can be devastating. Our skilled lawyers can help
guide you through all aspects of filing a
product liability claim.
Faulty Transvaginal Mesh
If you suffered from pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence
(SUI) and had complications following implantation of transvaginal mesh,
our all-female legal team at Legally Pink Law is ready to litigate your
case. POP and SUI are usually diagnosed following hysterectomy procedures,
menopause, or childbirth. Transvaginal mesh, which is made of plastic
and inserted through the vagina, can help reinforce the organs and return
normal function.
Unfortunately, the design and manufacturer-recommended implantation techniques
of some of these transvaginal mesh products have led to serious complications,
including massive infection and organ perforation. The FDA did not require
transvaginal mesh manufacturers to conduct tests on these products before
they were implanted.
Several complications have been reported following transvaginal mesh implantation,
including:
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Transvaginal mesh erosion: Erosion of the transvaginal mesh occurs when the mesh's edges break
down and pass through the vaginal wall, and sometimes even into surrounding
organs. This can result in severe pain, bleeding, infection, and nerve damage.
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Transvaginal mesh organ perforation: This occurs when the transvaginal mesh's sharp edges cut into organs
like the bladder. Serious damage caused by organ perforation may require
further surgery.
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Transvaginal mesh failure: Symptoms of mesh failure include pain, nerve damage, infection, bleeding,
painful sexual intercourse, recurrence of POP and SUI, vaginal scarring,
vaginal shrinkage, and neuromuscular disorders.