I Just Had my Breast Implants Replaced Due to Capsular Contracture. During Surgery, my Surgeon Discovered a Severe Infection?

He decided during surgery to replace this implant under the muscle. So now I have one on top and one underneath the muscle. It's only been a week since surgery but they look extremely different. I am also on 20 days of Key flex (antibiotic) and three days of some heavy duty anti biotic. I am quite concerned seeing I don't know how I got the infection in the first place. what could of caused it and where should I go from here??

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13 Doctor Answers | Asked by louise3martino in Boston

Doctor Answers (13)
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Strange story

This is a bizarre story. Infections are rarely found unexpectedly. If there were one, it would be inappropriate to put in a new implant and open up a new tissue plane potentially spreading the infection. You must have something wrong in the details here. I'd suggest you review this with the surgeon and perhaps seek a second opinion in your area.

Breast asymmetry

You should clarify this with your surgeon. I doubt that your surgeon would put the implant back in, if you had an active severe infection, maybe he meant that you had an infection at one time that caused a contracture.

Dennis Dass, MD

9 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.dassmd.com

Infection and Implants

I do not think that a plastic surgeon would place an implant into an infected area. As to why they look different, I have no idea why one would be placed over the muscle and one under. In replaning procedures for unilateral capsular contracture, I change the planes of both implants due to obvious contour deformity otherwise.

Revisional Breast Surgery

Typically, if an infection is found during surgery, an implant should not be replaced at that time. There should be adequare time given for the infection to clear up prior to replacing the implant. I would ask your plastic surgeon for more information. Here are some questions to possibly ask: 1. Was a culture done on the infected tissue? If so you can request copies of the results. 2. Was there a rupture of my previous implants or a small leak? 3. What was the benefit... more

Breast implants

You cant have a severe infection without clinical evidence such as fever, tenderness, pain, swelling etc. the appearance of the breasts will always be different and continue to become increasingly different over time if you have one over and one under the muscle. You need to heal and then have the other one put under the muscle

I would discuss this with your surgeon again

It would be unusual to knowingly place an implant under the muscle and leave the other above - best to discuss this with your surgeon to clarify

Concerns after Breast Revisionary Surgery?

I'm sorry to hear about the stressful experience around the time of breast surgery. I think you will be best off seeking clarification of exactly what was found and exactly what was done during the breast surgery (from your plastic surgeon). At this point, given that your surgery was in the recent past, you will be best off allowing for continued healing to occur; I would suggest that you evaluate the end results of the procedure performed several months from now. If... more

Infection and implants?

I think we are all saying the same thing, that the story may not be accurate. Surgeons would not put an implant back in during an active infection.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Implant infection discovered at the time of surgery?

I would agree there seems to be some part of the story missing. It would be very unusual to place one implant above the muscle if it was known in advanced the other was under the muscle. I would think that if this was really done then symmetry will be very difficult to achieve. As far as the infection you would not just discover intraoperatively that you had an unforeseen infection. If the implant is infected there may be not choice other than removing the implant.... more

Strange story

I agree withmy colleagues that something sounds very strange with this story. Either your surgeon has performed some bizarre operation, or you have greatly misunderstood what your surgeon did. You should seek a second opinion and make sure to get the operative report from your surgeon.