Chin Implant Infection 6 Months Post-Op, Does it Have to be Removed or Will Antibiotics be Enough?

I had a chin implant via intraoral approach 6 months ago - in august 2011. It went completely fine. The results are more than satisfying. I did not have any problem with infection. In january my implant became infected. I was prescribed with antibiotics and the infection cleared up - completely. My questions are: -) why would a chin implant get infected after such a long time? -) Why do so many surgeons immediately jump to removal, or is this the only option, if antibiotics dont work?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by Philipp in Australia

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Infection 6 Months after Chin Implant Placement

Although rare, the tissue around a chin implant may become infected, especially when placed through the mouth. Sometimes it is impossible to eliminate the infection without removing the foreign body, the implant,but your infection was successfully treated with antibiotics, and therefore removal is not necessary. If this does become a recurring problem, which is unlikely, you should consider removal.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

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Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Infection after chin implant

The intraoral approach has a higher chance of infection or seeding the implant with bacteria the have a subacute infection (biofilm) that may manifest later. The sub-mental placement of the implant reduces those chances. An implant is usually made out of silicone which is a forgin body that encapsulates. Any dissemination of bacteria into the blood stream such as dental work or a urinary tract infection may seed the implants and so antibiotics are advices prior to any procedure... more

Chin Implant Infection

Infection is a rare complication following chin implants. Usually, it will require removal of the implant for complete resolution, although I have heard (not experienced) instances where antibiotics and irrigation with disinfectant solution into the wound helped resolve the infection without implant removal. Whether this is suitable for you or not needs to be determined by your surgeon. Removal of the implant, if necessary, is relatively simple.

There is always risk of infection

Unfortunately any type of implant carries a lifelong risk of possible infection, although generally speaking the more time that passes the less likely that will occur. Once an implant becomes infected often but not all the time it needs to be removed. Often times because of the fibrous capsule that forms around chin implants, removal of the implants does not lead to significant reversal of the augmentation.