Different Drs Give Different Answers As to when to Replace Implants Why?

I had revision surgery for cc and dr switched from saline to silicone. Had hematoma and serious infection that went undiagnosed for about 2 months. have seen several other drs for 2nd opinion. dr who did the surgery said to replace implant in 4 weeks. another dr said 3 months and another said 6-9 months and would need pretty much total reconstruction. all are board certified and wondering why all the different opinions.

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by Washington DC1387 in Washington DC

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How long to wait to replace infected breast implant

The reason that you are receiving differing answers is because there is no textbook answer and therefore it is up to each individual's judgment based on personal experience. I would advise 6 months. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Longer you wait ,less risk for complication

I am sorry about your experience. You have a difficult problem and the reason that you are getting different answer is because of the complexity of the problem. i would suggest that you wait at least six months or longer if the breast tissue does not heal completely.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Opinions will differ, choose the surgeon that makes you comfortable

I am sorry to hear about your complications. Thankfully, most complications are treateable, although it may take some time before you are back to where you want to be. While infections during breast implants are rare, they may happen, and I favor waiting a while before attempting to replace the implant. In general, three months seems like a reasonable time to wait. Going in too soon may lead to surgery being performed in a breast that is still recovering and lead... more

After an Infected Breast Implant is removed, How Soon can it be Replaced?

Regarding: "Different Drs Give Different Answers As to when to Replace Implants Why? I had revision surgery for cc and dr switched from saline to silicone. Had hematoma and serious infection that went undiagnosed for about 2 months. have seen several other drs for 2nd opinion. dr who did the surgery said to replace implant in 4 weeks. another dr said 3 months and another said 6-9 months and would need pretty much total reconstruction. all are board certified and wondering why all... more

Breast implants

The differing answers indicate that there is no one answer! However, a minimum of 2-3 months are required to effects of infection to resolve. The more time, the better. I was taught to wait at least 3 months.

Breast implants and infection...

The question you ask is indeed a difficult one to get a straight answer to, mostly because we do not have the science to back up a straight answer. I would like to add to my colleagues answers that a consultation with an infectious disease specialist would be beneficial for you. Treating these infections, depending on the type of bacteria you had can be tricky and you want to have been treated adequately. The general opinion of when to replace an implant in this situation is 6 months,... more

Breast Implant Infection

Thanks for the Question Ms. DC! I tell all my patients that when you see 10 Board Certified Plastic surgeons, you may get 9 different strategies or surgical plans....this is the art and science of medicine. Evidence based surgical practice, based on outcomes research, is the ideal way to practice medicine...however, sound, scientific outcomes research studies in plastic surgery are difficult to orchestrate and are therefore limited. We are getting better as plastic surgeon researchers to perf more

Breast implants don't like infection - neither do plastic surgeons.

What you are seeing is a difference of opinion and nothing more. All are generally accepted methods of treating your predicament. As noted above, the art of medicine involves the experience of the surgeon and that indeed varies widely. Good luck.

Waiting Period for Implant Replacement after Infection

Although I have yet to have placed an implant for augmentation which became infected and needed to be removed, I have on one accasion removed an implant which became infected (the original surgeon was on the West Coast). In that situation, I waited 3 months before replacing the implant. I agree that one should usually wait 3-6 months.