Am I at a greater risk of complications after breast augmentation since I have allergic contact dermatitis?

Thanks for your question!
Just make your your surgeon is aware of what you are allergic to and what you can put in place to avoid the allergens. Best wishes!

It depends on what you are allergic to. Some patients get reactions to the different adhesives or dressings we use, so I would just make sure your surgeon is aware of your sensitive skin. Regarding the silicone implants, unless you are allergic to silicone, you shouldn't have an increased complication risk based off of having contact dermatitis.

Dear Bostongirl13,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. You will need to get clearance from your doctor prior to surgery. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Not likely to have complications even with the contact dermatitis diagnosis as far as I know. For really specific allergies, patch testing has been done historically to check. Best Wishes!!

Hello, I'm Dr. Salvador Garcia. Yes, you may have a higher risk than a patient who doesn't have as many allergies, but even so, in your condition, your risk is 1% of implant rejection.

Hello and thank you for your question. I'm unaware of skin allergies increasing the risk of complications with silicone implants. I have had experience with patients who unknowingly had some hypersensitivities to certain types of adhesives used postoperatively or prepping solution utilized for skin sterilization prior to the surgery. These were just superficial reactions on the skin and did not have any impact on the surgery outcome, short-term or long-term.

The next step for you is to seek out a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in aesthetic plastic surgery. In your consultation, be sure your surgeon addresses all your concerns and discusses the surgery details including the position and size of the incision used, the type of breast implants available, the risks and benefits of the procedure, recovery time, and post-operative course. Also, be sure to see plenty of before-and-after pictures in women who have a similar breast appearance to yours, and preferably at different time frames (3 weeks out, 3 months out, etc) to more accurately predict your own surgical outcome. And lastly, I think the most important component of the consultation is to establish a good connection with your plastic surgeon. It’s the connection that allows you to clearly define your desired breast outcome goals, the first step of this whole process. If you don’t feel you have a good connection with your plastic surgeon after your consultation, he/she may not be the best surgeon for you.

For more information on breast augmentation, please refer to my link below.

Good luck.

Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS
Harvard-trained Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Your plastic surgeon and your allergy doctor should have a discussion so your plastic surgeon can outline all of the different materials which would contact your skin during your breast augmentation and whether any would be of concern or some could be modified or substituted. It would also be important to know the severity of the contact dermatitis because if it is only mild, medication to suppresses and control the reaction could be given around the time of your surgery. You should not be at any higher risk of developing complications from your breast augmentation so you can move forward with confidence. Best wishes.

You shouldn't be at higher risk of complications from breast implants due to having contact dermatitis. However you should discuss this with your board certified plastic surgeon as your sensitivities may change some of the standard items used in surgery (latex, adhesives, etc).

Having allergic contact dermatitis doesn't necessarily mean you're automatically at a greater risk of complications after breast augmentation, but it's important to disclose this information to your plastic surgeon. Allergic contact dermatitis indicates that you have a sensitivity or allergy to certain substances, and your plastic surgeon needs to be aware of this to take appropriate precautions.Complications after breast augmentation can include issues like infection, delayed wound healing, or an adverse reaction to materials used during the surgery. While having allergic contact dermatitis may not directly increase the risk of these complications, it could potentially affect how your body reacts to certain materials or substances used in the procedure.To mitigate potential risks, your surgeon may consider using materials that are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Additionally, they may take extra precautions to ensure a sterile environment during surgery.Open communication with your plastic surgeon is crucial. Make sure to provide a detailed medical history, including any allergies or sensitivities you may have. Your plastic surgeon will assess your individual situation and take the necessary steps to minimize risks and ensure the best possible outcome for your breast augmentation surgery.

We are all exposed to silicone on a daily basis and actual allergic reactions to silicone are very rare and are most common in those who work with high exposure to silicones in industry. It is quite common in many body and skin care products, especially hair products and makeup. You might be at risk for a reaction to the glue or tape, so please discuss your specific allergies with your surgeon.