Unglue MacBook Air battery cells?

I have a MacBook Air 11-inch from 2011. A few years ago the battery started swelling and I bought a cheap used replacement on eBay.

The replacement isn’t so great since the battery life is poor and the plastic screw holes are damaged. It fits in fine for now but I’d prefer something better since the computer is now getting more use than before.

I still have the old battery and it’s clear that only half (3) of the (6) cells are swollen/bulging. The others (3) appear normal. Is there a safe way to detach the swollen cells? Can the MacBook Air run with only half the cells? Can I transplant cells between battery enclosures? I don’t want to attempt this if there’s a legitimate fire risk.

Any thoughts appreciated.