How Long Before Infected Breast Implants Are Removed?

Hi there- In cases where the implant is involved in the infection, most surgeons would recommend that you immediately remove the implants and complete a course of antibiotics, with replacement after 2-3 months... Infection can occur without involvement of the implant, however. In these cases, antibiotics will often lead to complete resolution without surgery. How to know which type of infection you have? Only your surgeon will know, based on your examination and how it changes over time, whether more

If you have a real infection around the implant, known as a peri prosthetic infection. It needs to be removed ASAP! After the infection resolves and all the tissue "settles down", then you can consider replacing the implant . This usally takes at least 3 months.

 An infected breast implant should be removed today.  It is a relative emergency and needs prompt attention.  Antibiotics without implant removal will not cure a true implant infection.  Once they are out, you need to wait 6-12 weeks before re-insertion.

There is no reason to "have" to wait to remove infected implants unless you mean to ask how long one should give antibiotic treatment a chance to cure the infection. There is also some difference of opinion as to whether you need to have the infected implants replaced at all since some doctors might either treat the infection with a constant antibiotic irrigation set-up or remove them, irrigate the pocket, and then replace them back.

If you are sure there is an infection involving your implants you should see your plastic surgeon for evaluation and treatment which at the least will involve antibiotics and may end up wit removal of the implants. There is a waiting period before the implants are replaced because we need to allow the infection to completely clear and the tissues to soften. Dr Edwards