Timing of Breast Implant Replacement After Staph Infection?

It certainly sounds as if you have had a difficult experience so far. While your circumstance is quite rare, infections are to be taken very seriously. It sounds as if you were well cared for, having had the infected implant removed and then being placed on antibiotics. I agree that you should wait for a period of at least 6 months after appearing completely healed to replace your breast implant. With regard to your question- yes, it is possible that you can get another infection.

Your plastic surgeon will likely treat you with specific antibiotics around the time of your surgery, and will want to watch you very closely. He or she may use antibiotic irrigation during the operation as I do in Santa Barbara to provide further layers of safety. The odd are in your favor to have an event-free episode with this next operation, and so I would not fear getting your breast implant replaced and completing your breast augmentation.

Unfortunately, we occasionally see patients who
develop infection following breast augmentation surgery.Although this complication is relatively
rare, it occasionally occurs and usually always requires removal of breast
implants.When
this situation arises, surgeons delay implant replacement for at least six
months following the eradication of the infection.This not only allows adequate time for the
body to eliminate bacteria, but also allows adequate time for swelling and
inflammation to resolve as well.This
helps soften the breast tissue and ultimately helps the aesthetic result
following re-augmentation surgery.When
patients undergo re-augmentation, it’s important that prophylactic antibiotics
be utilized.These antibiotics should be
specific to the cultured bacterial sensitivities.In addition, it’s important to involve
infectious disease consultants in the pre- and post-operative care of patients
who have lost implants secondary to infection.When
these steps are taken to optimize patient care, reinfection rates are
relatively low.Unfortunately, even when
these steps are taken, there still remains some risk of recurrent infection.

There is no hardfast rule to waiting, however, it would seem statistically fruitful to wait at least six months to ensure that your body has minimized the source of infection.  I would personally advise you to wait the full six months at the very least.