Will having strep throat 8 years ago increase my chances of getting a breast implant infection?

What you read is talking about something else. Most commonly, what you read is talking about MRSA that naturally lives on many of our bodies. Many surgeons will have you use some special wipes to decrease the likelihood of this issue with surgery. Most people have had strep throat at some point but do not have issues after an augmentation. As always, be sure to research the surgeon doing your procedure to increase the chances of a favorable result.

Because strep throat is a bacterial infection, your doctor probably prescribed an antibiotic to treat it when it occurred eight years ago. That bacteria is no longer in your body. However, patients who have certain risk factors for bacterial infections are administered IV antibiotics one hour before the surgical incision. The most commonly administered drug is cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol), but your PS may have a different protocol.

Hi
The previous infection will not put you at increased risk. Most breast implant infections (which in the correct hands are exceedingly rare) are cause by bugs that live on your skin and get on the implant during surgery. In addition to this very small risk - once the implants are in the body then there is a second means by which they might get infected. This is if you get sick enough from a bacterial infection of any cause - Strep throat, urine infection etc which causes bacteria to get into your bloodstream (bacteremia) then the bacteria can lodge on the implant and cause an infection - once again this is very rare.
If you choose a qualified plastic surgeon then the risk is less than 1%.
Cheers
Damien

Its important to consider infectious risk when exploring breast augmentation. A history of strep throat would not be a roadblock to a breast augmentation. Certain types of bacterial infections such as staph infections require specialized antibiotics to minimize risk for patients with a history of staph infections.

Best wishes,

Dr. Jan

I recommend an in person evaluation by a plastic surgeon to be measured and discuss your goals. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of former patients with similar measurements. My patients tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what is right for them. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee.

Thanks for your inquiry. No I do not think a Strep infection in the remote past is a significant risk for infection at the time of surgery, best of luck.

Dear Wended,
Thank you for your question. There is no evidence that shows a history of strep throat increases your risk for post operative infection following a Breast Augmentation operation. Best of luck to you!

Dear Wended,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Generally speaking, strep throat 8 years ago will not have negative effect on your surgery. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Even though you carry a host of bacteria, you should be cleared of the strep that caused your infection. Your surgeon will probably give you antibiotics prior to surgery to minimize the risk of infection.

Having strep throat 8 years ago will not increase your chances of getting an infection from breast augmentation. The infection from strep sounds like an isolated infection that has long since cleared up. There are many steps that are taken in surgery to keep the risk of infection as low as possible. Many times surgeons will use antibiotics prophylactically during surgery to further decrease the risk of infection. Talk to your surgeon to learn more.