Back in 2019, when Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA) was founded, advocates hoped there would be more awareness and better safety systems in place by now. Unfortunately, the same issues continue, and new risks are emerging. Advocates from BISA’s core team are traveling from all over the US and Canada to Charleston, South Carolina, from June 8 - June 11th, 2023.

Breast Implant Associated Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system. Accumulating evidence suggests that BIA-ALCL may be a common—not rare—risk from exposure to Allergan Biocell® breast implants.

Washington, DC: On May 16, 2023 members of the Patient, Consumer and Public Health Coalition met with members of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to discuss issues related to prescription and medical device approvals, surveillance and oversight, and how CMS is providing information to the public.

Advocates in Canada and the U.S. have long stressed the urgent need for improved data to protect public safety. As a result, the federal committee is studying the feasibility of a database. On May 11, 2023, BISA advocates will testify to Parliament at the nation’s capital in Ottawa in favor of creating a national breast implant registry for Canadians.

So often the emotional healing from breast implant and explant surgery is completely overlooked however it can be equally as important as the physical healing. Amanda Savage Brown, Ph.D., LCSW, a psychotherapist, author, and member of the Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA) advisory council, seeks to help guide others in the process of emotional healing during breast reconstruction.

Maria Gmitro of Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA) addresses breast implant related illness and cancers, BIA-ALCL, and BIA-SCC with a focus on informed consent and her personal experience with breast implants, advocacy and the FDA.

Get the most important information about breast implants. Whether you’re considering breast implants or already living with breast implants, here’s what you need to know.

BISA advocates, Sherri Gorbett and Heidi Rolfs, will be representing at upcoming events in Bend, Oregon to raise awareness and interact with healthcare professionals.

BISA wants to protect the right to access to all reconstruction options. We are pleased to announce that BISA has partnered with Community Breast Reconstruction Alliance (CBRA).

On March 8, 2023, the FDA released a Safety Communication Update on reports of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) in the capsule around breast implants. BISA wrote a statement about the new safety alert.

Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA) was represented at the meeting of the Patient, Consumer, and Public Health Coalition with Commissioner Califf and key FDA Officials.

Renee Ridgeley, breast cancer advocate and voice of Dr. Sage on ‘The Simpsons,’ speaks to Lowcountry Live about aesthetic flat closure and Stand Tall AFC.

The first annual MUSC Breast Cancer Survivors Wellness Expo in Charleston, South Carolina focused on women’s health, wellness, fashion, beauty, and food to provide resources for breast cancer and long-term survivorship.

Patient advocates spoke on breast-implant-associated anaplastic lymphoma at the 4th World Consensus Conference on BIA-ALCL 2022.

Maria Gmitro, president and founder of BISA, spoke at the Medical Device Innovation Consortium in D.C., sharing her experience with breast implants and making recommendations for future safety considerations.

Get the most important information about breast implants. Whether you’re considering breast implants or already living with breast implants, here’s what you need to know.

The FDA safety communication informed the public about reports of newly-discovered types of cancer in the capsules around breast implants.

Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA) sent a team to represent at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) conference “Plastic Surgery The Meeting” held in Atlanta, GA from October 28 - November 1, 2021.

Breast Implant Safety Alliance (BISA) attended the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) annual conference “Plastic Surgery The Meeting.” The meeting was held virtually on October 16-18, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In May of 2019, two of our BISA representatives, Maria Gmitro and Julie Lykins, joined the Medical Device Problems advocates and traveled to Washington, DC for medical device patient safety.