Infection after breast augmentation surgery

First, call your surgeon immediately! An infection has the potential to require not one, but two or more operations--one to remove the implant, then a second to place another implant several months later (after the tissues have fully healed and matured).

Infections requiring implant removal are thankfully rare. The highest risk period is likely the initial healing period after surgery for several weeks. Diabetics and smokers are much more at risk, but the risk is never zero. After the initial healing period, we, on rare occasion, see "random" infections of the breast wherein it is difficult to identify a specific cause.

In an attempt to reduce the risk for a late infection, I generally give antibiotics before surgery intravenously and by mouth for five days after surgery. Additionally, I recommend a single dose of antibiotics prior to any invasive procedure or for dental cleaning or dental work (notably, surgeons differ on their antibiotic recommendations, and antibiotics themselves carry their own risks).

Signs and symptoms of a breast infection include:


Breast swelling

Pain or redness

Fevers, chills, or general weakness are other symptoms


Infections in the initial healing period would commonly have redness at the incision site and pain with or without swelling can be seen. If there is significant drainage from the incision site or an opening of the incision, this is particularly at risk of infecting the implant pocket.

When in doubt, generally antibiotics are given. Play it safe! If there is a question about an infection after breast augmentation surgery, it is important to be evaluated by your surgeon.

Infections related to breast augmentation wounds are typically very superficial and typically related to an internal dissolving suture wanting to "spit out". These are generally minor and self limiting.The greater concern is a deep infection within the implant pocket. This is a serious issue and will not go away with simple antibiotics. This would typically require further surgery (often two operations) to fix the problem.Ultimately, this is not something that you wait around to see what happens. You should immediately see your plastic surgeon and he/she will be able to assess and determine what the issues are and how they should be treated.

See your surgeon as soon as possible. Stop self medicating and let them figure out what the best course of action is.

         Infection following
breast augmentation is a serious complication that can result in patients
losing their breast implants. Signs of infection include; redness, swelling,
drainage, pain, fever and flu like symptoms.

         When any of these
symptoms occur, they should be investigated aggressively. This may include
laboratory studies, ultrasonography, and possibly fluid aspiration from the
breast pocket for culture.

         Based on your
history, it appears that you have a superficial type of infection known as a
stitch abscess. This results from an absorbable suture protruding through the
skin and becoming secondarily infected.

         Treatment involves
removing the suture and treating the wound with dressing changes and antibiotics.
If improvement doesn’t occur rapidly, then further investigation is indicated
to rule out infection of the breast pocket.

         It’s important that
your plastic surgeon closely monitors your progress. It appears that your wound
is slowly improving and should continue to get better with time. 

Sounds like a very localized reaction to the suture.  I have seen this happen in some patients that are sensitive to certain absorbable sutures including barbed sutures.  If it has taken this long to resolve, I would recommend excising the the area and closing again in a different fashion.  

There are two major types of infections that are seen after breast augmentation surgery.  The more common type of infection is superficial in natural, usually clears up with antibiotics, and occurs in roughly 1% of cases.  Less commonly, deeper infections can occur which involve the implant.  These infections are much more serious, and can require intravenous antibiotics or even removal of the implant.  It can sometimes be a challenge determining if a deeper infection has occurred.  Your best resource is a board certified plastic surgeon with experience performing breast augmentation.

It is relatively rare to get an infection after breast augmentation surgery. He can be separated into 2 categories. Deep and superficial. Superficial infections usually relate to incisional issues such as stitch abscesses, superficial cellulitis, etc. Deep infections are more serious and usually relate to infection around the implant, inside the pocket. The management of these types of infections is more complex.

For superficial infections, local wound care, oral antibiotics will usually treat the majority of these types of infections. If they should recur, then I would recommend culture of the wound and appropriate antibiotic based on wound cultures. Remembered that if a small portion of the incision opens up, that it will take time for that open wound to heal, as opposed to a wound that remains closed. Your surgeon will give you an idea of how long an open wound should take to heal.

Deep infections usually involve the entire breast implant pocket and require intravenous antibiotics and in most cases surgical removal of the implant. He would be very sick and have high fevers if this were the case.

For any board certified plastic surgeon, these are well known complications that can be managed effectively and quickly. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Many answers have correctly talked about dissolving sutures, stitch abscess, and the difference between a superficial wound or incisional infection, and implant or pocket infection. Two courses of antibiotics would generally be overkill for superficial incisional or stitch-type infections; removal of the offending stitch should be all that is necessary, unless more than one stitch has become infected (usually from skin bacteria, but occasionally from other sources, like pets or contaminated finger touch).  If there is still drainage, I am concerned that your pocket (and implant) have become infected. If this is indeed the case, your implant (s) will almost certainly need to be removed to properly treat this infection. Stronger antibiotics, infectious disease consultation, and/or intravenous antibiotics almost never solve an implant infection, as antibiotics cannot sterilize an infected foreign object in the body (breast implant).  Your surgeon should not delay removal if this is anything other than a simple stitch drainage that heals promptly without exposing your implant to bacterial contamination. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

There are two types of infections after breast augmentation. Wound infections are superficial and usually clear with wound care and antibiotics. In a pocket infection the implant has become contaminated, this will not respond to antibiotics and will need to be removed.

If the wound infection is not responding normally to antibiotics, the pocket infection needs to be ruled out .Furthermore, avoid strong antiseptics like Hibiclens, for they will significantly delay normal healing. Plain soap and water, and a topical antimicrobial (like neosporin or silvadene) will work better.

Do not delay surgical treatment if it becomes obvious that the antibiotics are not working.

Infection after breast augmentation is very rare, but can happen.  If you have an infection, you may need long term antibiotics and sometimes even need to have the implant removed.  You should follow up closely with your surgeon.  It is very important that you see a board certified plastic surgeon.

It sounds like a superficial infection cause by suture. This not uncommon and it usually resolves with local wound care,oral antibiotics, local exploration of the wound and removal of the suture.  However,  is very important that you follow with your plastic surgeon because sometimes this superficial infections can be complicated by deep infections involving the breast implant.