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Infected Implant After Brest Reconstruction No Radiation

asked 1 year ago by Concerned12065 in Clifton Park, NY
Latest answer by Paul Albear, MD
Question viewed 293 times
Tags: silicone implant, expander, infection, mastectomy

Had double mastectomy with expander placement. One expander became infected and was removed. Have since had bilateral silicone implants placed with lat flap to non-expanded breast. Lat flap breast has since become infected. What are my chances of clearing this infection without having to remove the implant? Concerned in CP

4 answers to Infected Implant After Brest Reconstruction No Radiation

+1

Infected with implant

Difficult . I will remove an implant and take cultures at one setting. Treat the infection with the help of an infectious disease team if needed. wait till it is cleared and re-insert a new expander to re-create the space.
+1

Infected implants

If you have a bad infection of your implants, then more than likley they will need to be removed and then the reconstruction revisited in a few months later once things have settled down. Good luck.
+1

Infected implants

Dear Concerned, In cases similar to yours you might need to have the implant taken out and the pocket irrigated with antibiotic solution, a drain may be necessary. You may have to go without an implant for a few weeks to allow for clearance of the infection and healing of the area. In addition to oral antibiotics of course. Sometimes changing the pocket where the implant is placed and using smooth implants can help. Unfortunately this is a difficult situation that has... more
+1

Breast reconstruction

The answer depends on how far post op you are and if the infection is superficial. You may need either a sonogram or an MRI to see if there is fluid around the implant. If there is fluid it is more likely that the implant would need to be removed.

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