Is my Implant Infected?

asked 1 year ago by TiaMaria89 in london
Latest answer by Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Question viewed 2,168 times
Tags: infection

i had a breast uplift and implants 3 weeks and a half ago, everything was fine until last week my left breast's stiches opened i went to my GP, they changed the dressing, i kept it always clean and now it has a white secretion even under the stiches in the areola and now the right one is deteriorating too, my surgeon, who is abroad, said i should let it heal and scar then he would fix my scar but im worried my implants might be infected, they put me on antibiotics and changed my dressing.

9 answers to Is my Implant Infected?

Breast Augmentation / Lift Complication - wound separation with Possible Infected Implants

Regarding: "Is my Implant Infected? i had a breast uplift and implants 3 weeks and a half ago, everything was fine until last week my left breast's stiches opened i went to my GP, they changed the dressing, i kept it always clean and now it has a white secretion even under the stiches in the areola and now the right one is deteriorating too, my surgeon, who is abroad, said i should let it heal and scar then he would fix my scar but im worried my implants might be infected,... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Incision problems should be addressed immediately.

You should go back to a Plastic Surgeon in your area and show them the incision you are having trouble with. Changing the dressings may not be enough. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Wound breakdown and implants

It looks like some of the skin along the vertical limb has necrosed. You may have impending implant exposure if you do not have al ot of soft tissue covering the implant. Sometimes the implant has to be remove and then replaced at a later time after the tissues have healed. Follow closely with your doctor. Good luck!

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Infected implant?

Yikes! Get thee to a real plastic surgeon ASAP. This looks really bad and needs expert care. If your implant isn't infected already, it will be soon unless this external infection gets under control. No GP in the world (even Marcus Welby) knows how to handle this. Lisa Lynn Sowder, M.D.

Lisa L. Sowder, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Breast Lift Complication

What your photo demonstrates is a breakdown of the vertical limb of your augmentation mastopexy procedure and an impending exposure of the implant. Essentially, the skin closure was too tight resulting in death of the skin and fat. The indication that you are draining fluid is concerning as well. I do not feel that this is an issue your GP should be taking care of. You need to see a Plastic Surgeon in London. Without appropriate care, this may very well lead to exposure of the implant... more

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

The Epic Battle of Breast Augmentation plus a Breast Lift

It appears that you have had a wound healing issue meaning that an implant was placed and lift perform and closing the skin at that site was very tight. This the great battle in augmentation plus mastopexy, where an implant is placed to make the breast fuller but a lift is also performed to tighten the breast which makes it smaller. I would recommend continued dressing changes to get the wound to health. After the wound is healthy then it may be allowed to heal to... more

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Infected implants after breast augmentation and lift

Wound dehiscence is a possible complication of breast augmentation with lift, and there is a higher risk of this occurring when there is tension on the incision, or where the circulation is compromised as in diabetics and smokers. Infection may be present as well, but determining this requires physical examination and cannot be accurately diagnosed from a photograph. Your plastic surgeon is the best person to assess and manage this type of problem, and if unavailable you would best be... more

Olivia Hutchinson, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

You need to see a Board certified plastic surgeon

You are in a difficult situation and your plastic surgeon should be taking care of you. Your surgeon would know the thickness of the tissue,risk of the implant exposure and the best treatment plan. You need to find a plastic surgeon that would take care of you before the wound gets bigger.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Agree fully with Dr. Aldea

Dr. Aldea composed a very well-reasoned reply to your question, and I fully agree with his assessment and recommendation. There is no scenario I can imagine in which it is appropriate for a GP to manage a postoperative wound, particularly one involving an implant. Your photos also appear to show impending breakdown of skin around your areola (the two black spots I see in your photo in the incision around your areola). You need aggressive, immediate wound management by a... more