If you received Allergan Biocell textured breast implants — recalled in 2019 over a rare immune-system lymphoma called BIA-ALCL — here is what the condition actually is, who may qualify in MDL 2921, and where the litigation stands ahead of its first bellwether trial.
Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet
This page describes an investigation and ongoing litigation. The statements below are unproven allegations. Allergan has not been found liable, there is no certified class, and there is no settlement or claim form at this time. Allergan has described its 2019 recall as a precaution, made without any admission of wrongdoing. This page is informational and is not legal or medical advice. Do not remove, replace, or alter any medical device without consulting your surgeon.
What Is This About?
Do you have — or did you once have — Allergan Biocell textured breast implants or tissue expanders? In 2019 those devices were recalled worldwide over a link to a rare cancer of the immune system called BIA-ALCL. If you were implanted with them, and especially if you have been diagnosed with BIA-ALCL, you may be eligible to speak with counsel about your legal options.The federal cases are consolidated in multidistrict litigation known as MDL 2921, In re: Allergan Biocell Textured Breast Implant Products Liability Litigation, before Judge Brian R. Martinotti in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Plaintiffs allege that Allergan's textured implants substantially increase the risk of developing BIA-ALCL and that the company failed to adequately warn patients and doctors.
The claims are allegations that have not been proven in court. The litigation remains in active pretrial proceedings, with the first bellwether trial scheduled for October 2026.
What Is BIA-ALCL? (It Is Not Breast Cancer)
One of the most important facts to get right is what this cancer actually is. BIA-ALCL — breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma — is not breast cancer. It is a rare T-cell lymphoma, a cancer of the immune (lymphatic) system. Rather than forming in breast tissue, it develops in the scar-capsule and the fluid that the body forms around a textured implant.The condition is strongly associated with textured-surface implants specifically, and it is often highly treatable when caught early — frequently by surgically removing the implant along with the surrounding capsule. Common warning signs include persistent swelling, fluid buildup (seroma), a lump, or pain in the breast around an implant, sometimes years after surgery. Anyone with those symptoms should be evaluated by a physician; this page does not offer medical advice.
The 2019 Recall
On July 24, 2019, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Allergan announced a worldwide recall of its Biocell textured breast implants and tissue expanders. At the time of the recall, the FDA reported it was aware of 573 unique cases of BIA-ALCL worldwide and 33 related deaths, with the majority of the cases attributed to Allergan Biocell devices; the agency stated that the risk of BIA-ALCL with these textured implants was several times higher than with textured implants from other manufacturers.The recalled products are in Allergan's Natrelle Biocell line, and include:
• Natrelle saline-filled Biocell textured breast implants
• Natrelle and Natrelle Inspira silicone-filled Biocell textured implants
• Natrelle 410 highly cohesive anatomically shaped textured implants
• Natrelle 133 Biocell textured tissue expanders
Smooth-surface implants were not part of this recall. Plaintiffs allege that Allergan was slow to act as safety signals accumulated — noting that some other countries restricted the devices before the U.S. recall — and that the company should have warned patients and surgeons earlier. Allergan has described the recall as precautionary and has not admitted wrongdoing.
Two Groups of Claimants
The MDL is organized around two broad groups of plaintiffs:• BIA-ALCL injury claims: people implanted with Allergan Biocell devices who were diagnosed with the lymphoma (and who often underwent explant or additional treatment).
• Implant-in-place / monitoring claims: people who still have the recalled implants and have not been diagnosed with BIA-ALCL, but who pursue claims for medical monitoring, the cost or need for removal, and related economic and personal-injury theories.
In a March 2021 ruling on Allergan's motion to dismiss, Judge Martinotti allowed a number of the claims — including manufacturing-defect and certain failure-to-warn, warranty, and negligence theories — to proceed, while dismissing some others (including certain label-based warning claims) on federal preemption grounds. The result was widely described as a mixed ruling that let the core of the litigation move forward.
Who May Qualify?
You may qualify to speak with counsel if you were implanted with Allergan Biocell textured breast implants or tissue expanders and either:• Were diagnosed with BIA-ALCL, or
• Still have the recalled devices in place and face monitoring, testing, or removal.
Eligibility depends on the specific device, your diagnosis, and the facts of your case. Helpful evidence includes your implant identification card, operative and pathology reports, imaging, and hospital and billing records. Statutes of limitations vary by state, so anyone considering a claim should consult an attorney promptly.
Where the Litigation Stands
As of mid-2026, there is no court-approved global settlement of the Allergan Biocell cases and no bellwether has been tried to a verdict. The parties have engaged in mediation, and the court has moved the litigation toward trial: the first bellwether — focused on surgical explant cases — is scheduled for October 2026. Because any individual recovery would turn on the strength of a claimant's records and the facts of each case, there is no public claim form to complete on this page.Frequently Asked Questions
What is BIA-ALCL, and is it breast cancer?
BIA-ALCL stands for breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. It is not breast cancer. It is a rare T-cell lymphoma — a cancer of the immune system — that develops in the scar-capsule and fluid that form around a textured breast implant. It is highly treatable when caught early, often by removing the implant and the surrounding capsule.
Which Allergan implants were recalled?
On July 24, 2019, at the FDA's request, Allergan issued a worldwide recall of its Biocell textured breast implants and tissue expanders. The recalled products include the Natrelle saline-filled and silicone-filled Biocell textured implants, the Natrelle Inspira and Natrelle 410 textured lines, and the Natrelle 133 tissue expanders. Smooth (non-textured) implants were not part of this recall.
Is there an Allergan Biocell settlement?
No. As of mid-2026 there is no court-approved global settlement of the Allergan Biocell cases. The federal cases are consolidated in MDL 2921 in New Jersey, the parties have engaged in mediation, and the first bellwether trial has been scheduled for October 2026. There is no public claim form on this page.
Who may qualify for an Allergan Biocell claim?
People implanted with Allergan Biocell textured breast implants or tissue expanders — especially anyone diagnosed with BIA-ALCL. A second group of claimants still has the recalled implants in place without a BIA-ALCL diagnosis and pursues monitoring and other claims. Eligibility depends on the device, the diagnosis, and the facts of each case.
Related Mass Torts & Sources
• Exactech knee, hip & ankle implant recall lawsuit (MDL 3044) — another recalled-implant device MDL.• Bard & Davol hernia mesh lawsuit (MDL 2846) — a large device product-liability MDL.
• Paragard copper IUD breakage lawsuit (MDL 2974) — another women's-health device MDL.
Primary sources: the FDA press announcement and recall notice on Allergan Biocell textured breast implants and tissue expanders (July 24, 2019); the FDA's questions-and-answers on BIA-ALCL; the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) pending-MDL statistics; and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey MDL 2921 docket and case-management orders.
Important Disclosures
This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute medical or legal advice. You should consult a qualified attorney about your individual situation. OpenClassActions.com is not a law firm and is not a claims administrator, and this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.Free settlement alerts
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