Breast Implants and Cancer Risk: BIA-ALCL, BIA-SCC, and Motiva Implants
My belief and my understanding of the literature right now is that the Motiva Smooth Cell and the Smooth should be safe and not induce those cancers.
Do Breast Implants Cause Cancer?
Breast implants do not increase your risk of the type of breast cancer most people think of — the "one in eight women" statistic is unaffected by implants. However, there are two rare cancers associated with breast implants that you should know about.
BIA-ALCL: Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
This is a rare lymphoma that was discovered in women with breast implants. What we now know is that BIA-ALCL is associated specifically with textured breast implants — but not all textured implants are the same.
The Texturing Matters
The implants linked to BIA-ALCL have aggressive texturing in the range of 40 to 90 microns. All of the manufacturers that make these more aggressively textured implants have had ALCL cases reported.
Where Motiva Fits In
Motiva's texturing is only 4 microns — which is much closer to a smooth implant (0 to 2 microns) than to the aggressively textured implants associated with ALCL. The FDA previously even classified Motiva as smooth implants for this reason.
As of 2026, there are zero cases of ALCL in patients who have only had smooth implants or only had Motiva smooth cell implants. The current belief is that these implant types do not induce this cancer.
A Note About the Database
If you look in the ALCL patient database, you may see patients who had smooth or Motiva implants at the time of diagnosis. But these patients also had a history of textured implants — the textured implants were not their only implant. Understanding this context is critical when interpreting the data.
BIA-SCC: Breast Implant Associated Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The second rare cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. We know that chronic inflammation can lead to squamous cell carcinomas — we see it in chronic wounds and chronic stomach ulcers. Now we've seen it in patients with long-standing capsular contractures.
This isn't really about the implant itself — it's about the chronic inflammatory environment around it. This is another important reason to get capsular contractures fixed. Every woman deserves a soft, non-painful breast, and there is this very rare cancer associated with untreated contractures.
How Long Has Motiva Been Around?
One common concern is that Motiva implants haven't been around long enough to know if they're truly safe. But Motiva has been on the market for 15 years globally. Just because they've only been available in the U.S. for about a year doesn't mean they're new.
Could a case emerge in the future? We never say never in medicine. But based on the current literature and reported cases, Motiva smooth cell and smooth implants appear to be safe and do not appear to induce these cancers.
The Bottom Line
- Breast implants do not increase standard breast cancer risk
- BIA-ALCL is linked to aggressively textured implants (40–90 micron), not smooth or lightly textured
- Motiva (4 micron) has zero ALCL cases in patients without prior textured implant history
- BIA-SCC is linked to chronic capsular contracture — another reason to get contractures treated
- Motiva has been available globally for 15 years with a strong safety profile
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Every person deserves to feel comfortable and confident in their own body. Our procedures aren't just about physical change—they're about reclaiming your life, your comfort, and your self-assurance.
Dr. Killeen's expertise and compassionate approach ensure that your journey is supported every step of the way, from initial consultation through complete recovery.
Take the first step toward the life you deserve.
Schedule Your ConsultationRelated Articles
Are Smooth Implants Better Than Textured? My Definitive Answer
June 27, 2026
Dr. Killeen gives a rare definitive answer: smooth implants are superior to textured for one reason — BIA-ALCL, the rare lymphoma driven by surface texture. She breaks down why it comes down to microns (smooth 0-2, Motiva SmoothSilk 4, macro-textured 40-90), why Motiva belongs in the smooth category, why the "Motiva is brand new" claim is false (15+ years worldwide), and why she does not use macro-textured implants.
Motiva's SilkSurface Texturing Is Not the Same as Macro-Textured Implants — Here's Why ALCL Risk Is Different
July 24, 2025
Dr. Killeen clears up the misinformation around Motiva implants and BIA-ALCL. The Motiva SilkSurface is 4 microns deep — dramatically closer to a smooth implant than to the 90-micron macro-textured implants that drove the ALCL signal. Plus why some of the loudest anti-Motiva voices online are clinicians who can't use it.
Doja Cat's Capsular Contracture: Let's Talk About It (Kindly)
May 14, 2025
After a viral photo of Doja Cat sparked unkind comments about her breast contour, Dr. Killeen uses the moment to explain capsular contracture: what it is (the scar capsule around an implant turning thick and abnormal), why it distorts the breast and can hurt, that it can be fixed, and why you should treat it — both for comfort and because of the rare BIA-SCC cancer risk tied to chronic contracture.