Breast Implants Q&A
80%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
1,009 Reviews
Breast Implantsbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Breast Implants Cost: $6,000

Learn about Breast Implants

4,932 people and 832 doctors are talking about Breast Implants

Get Free Email Updates

How big is risk to get infection again, after surgery for replacement expander to implant?

asked 1 year ago by beautyoftheword in Los Angeles
Latest answer by Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Question viewed 203 times
Tags: female, infection

I had a little infection on radiated breast after double mastectomy and reconstruction with expander .Extender was not removed. After treatment with antibiotic infection's gone.4 month left.Expander has 500 cc now.It' harder, and smaller than another breast.How big is risk to get infection again, after surgery for replacement expander to implant? How to prevent it ? Thank you, Natalia

6 answers to How big is risk to get infection again, after surgery for replacement expander to implant?

+2

Risk of infection

In a breast that ahs had a previous infection and was radiated, there is probably an increased risk to have a capsule or recurrent infection.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+2

Recurrent infection risk

It is hard to quantify.  It is higher than if you never had an infection.  Waiting for an appropriate interval for all inflammation to subside, and taking the correct antibiotics can minimize the risk.
David A. Lickstein, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+2

How big is risk to get infection again, after surgery for replacement expander to implant?

Very hard question to advise upon. You can try all the preventive measures but in radiated tissue that has a capsular  fibrosis the risks are significant increased. Have you thought of a Lats flap reconstruction? Best of luck from MIAMI Dr. Darryl j. Blinski
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+2

How big is risk to get infection again, after surgery for replacement expander to implant?

Regarding: "How big is risk to get infection again, after surgery for replacement expander to implant? I had a little infection on radiated breast after double mastectomy and reconstruction with expander .Extender was not removed. After treatment with antibiotic infection's gone.4 month left.Expander has 500 cc now.It' harder, and smaller than another breast.How big is risk to get infection again, after surgery for replacement expander to implant? How to prevent it ? Thank... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast implant infection

If you already had an infection around an implant and it has been radiated, it is quite likely that you will have more problems like hardening or another infection.  As long as the current expander is not infected (antibiotics usually DON'T cure infected implants), and using drains and antibiotics you are doing all you can to replace the expander with a permanent implant safely.  But there are no guarantees here.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Irradiated and infected breast reconstruction

IF your expander has become infected some would say it retains bacteria in the form of a biofilm which increases the risk of capsular contracture and/or subseqeunt infection. The only way to minimzie this is to use your own tissue in the form of a flap.  
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question