005 Melisa Erickson

In 2005, Melisa Erickson was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In 2019, her Allergan breast implants were recalled after the FDA reported they were causing sickness, cancer, and sometimes death. 

According to drugwatch.com, "In July 2019, Allergan recalled its Biocell textured breast implants after the FDA had linked them to a rare cancer called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or BIA-ALCL. Most of Allergan’s recalled textured breast implants were sold under the Natrelle brand. The FDA advises women with BIA-ALCL to have their implants removed."

Melisa's breast implant illness has been masked by her pre-existing MS symptoms, but as soon as she discovered she had "breast implant illness," she arranged to have them removed. Melisa will have a procedure called an "explant" surgery on January 4, 2022, to have her poisonous breast implants removed. 

Here is the press release related to the Allergan Aesthetic's breast implant recall:

IRVINE, Calif., June 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company (NYSE: ABBV), is initiating a new digital campaign to improve device tracking and further identify and reach breast implant patients who have, or have had, BIOCELL® breast implants and/or tissue expanders to inform them of the risk of BIA-ALCL. Since July 2019 when the BIOCELL® recall was announced, robust efforts were made to reach patients, however, the Company is still seeking to directly contact all U.S. BIOCELL® patients that have not yet been notified. This is due to incomplete device tracking data for approximately 52,000 BIOCELL® breast implant units.

It is important to note the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made the following recommendation, "If you have no symptoms, we are not recommending the removal of these or other types of breast implants due to the low risk of developing BIA-ALCL. However, if you have any questions, talk to your health care provider."1

Allergan Aesthetics will launch a multi-channel campaign which will include digital and social media advertisements further informing patients of the voluntary recall and directing them to Allergan Aesthetics' www.BIOCELLinformation.com website for education on how to identify their implant type and register their implants.

"Allergan Aesthetics is committed to patient safety and we are continuing to make every effort to make sure that each and every patient is made aware of the BIOCELL® recall, and knows their implant type and implant history," said John Maltman, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Allergan Aesthetics.

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