Do you think I need a second opinion?

Thank you for your question.  I am sorry to hear about the difficulties you have been experiencing.  My recommendation for you would be to get the opinion of another doctor who can help identify the underlying cause of your recurrent infections.  All the best,Dr. ResultsMiami, FL

If your surgeon is concerned that you have a cellulitis he was done the right thing by putting you on antibiotics however if he is saying "may" it would be best for you to get a second opinion with a definitive answer to ensure that you are on the right type of medication for your infections. The most important thing now is to ensure that you are getting this infection under control before it progresses. All the best.

Sorry to hear that you are having troubles with your surgery.  At this point, if you are trying salvage the implant that you have, then visiting with an infectious disease physician may also help.  Ultimately, if the infection doesn't heal, then removing them may be needed.  In this case a delayed insertion may be needed to give your breast tissue to heal and clear the infection.If you feel that you are not getting the attention needed by your current plastic surgeon, then it may also be worthwhile to seek a second opinion.

Thank you for your question.  I am sorry to hear about all the issues that you have had with your left breast, and hope that you recover quickly.  In general a trial of antibiotics is warranted if the infection is a cellulitis. This should improve within a couple of days of antibiotic initiation. If there is any concern for a pocket of infection, or abscess, this typically requires a drainage procedure and antibiotics to fully clear it.  If, however, the antibiotics are not successful, or if the infection is thought to involve the implant, then the best course of action is to have the implant removed.  Once an implant has become colonized with bacteria, salvage is not possible, and it needs to be removed in order for your body to clear the infection.  Hope this helps. 

I agree with the other plastic surgeons that an ID specialist would be best.However if you do not have health insurance or if your health insurance excludes complications of cosmetic surgery, the treatment prescribed by an ID doctor may get very expensive.if you do have an infection around the breast implant, it can be almost impossible to cure the infection without removing the foreign material (thebreast implant).  Sometimes the best thing to do is remove the implant now, heal up and get rid of the infection and have the implant replaced later.  You can try for weeks and months going through expensive rounds of antibiotics and still eventually have to have the implant removed.Also, you may want to get an opinion from a second plastic surgeon. Revisions and infections after primarybreast augmentation shouldbe a rare event (if that's all you had done).

Your left breast has been chronically infected and it is time to see an Infectious Disease specialist. Only then will you have a chance at salvaging the implant.  Most times removal of the implant and later replacement is the only hope.

It may be worthwhile to see a physician who specializes in infectious disease, along with your plastic surgeon.  Infectious disease doctors are well informed on the most common bacterial infections in your local area and which antibiotic treatments may work the best.  When, I have a patient with a recurrent breast infection, I routinely ask an infectious disease colleague for their assistance.  I doubt your surgeon would mind the added input.  Best wishes, Dr. Lepore.

Generally infections around breast implants are best treated with a trial of antibiotics and then if no results remove the implant for 3 months.   If an infection is just in the surrounding tissue the implant may be saved .  But if the infection is around the actual implant the implant is best removed for at least 3 to 4 months.  My Best,  Dr C