What are the chances of cellulitis coming back with new implants?

Question

I had cellulitus at scar under breast and implant got taken out near 6 months ago. I’m thinking about getting a new implant put in but what’s my chance of the cellulitis coming back just any time or is it usually just agter surjury when this happens? There’s some capsule still left in me is that ok or can that affect this cellulitis reaccuring? Thanks!

Mert Demirel, MD · Answer

If you had cellulitis around the breast scar and the implant had to be removed, it is important to be cautious before placing a new implant. Re-augmentation can be possible, but only after the infection has fully resolved and the tissues are healthy.
The risk of cellulitis or infection is usually highest in the early period after surgery, but it can also happen later, especially if bacteria remain in scar tissue, fluid, capsule, or if there are wound-healing issues. It is not possible to give an exact percentage without knowing the original infection details.
A retained capsule is not always a problem, but if there is any concern that the capsule was involved with infection, fluid, biofilm, or chronic inflammation, your surgeon may recommend removing more of it during revision. Sometimes cultures are taken during surgery to check for bacteria.
Six months may be enough time in some cases, but the timing depends on whether the breast has been completely quiet: no redness, pain, swelling, drainage, fever, or fluid collection. Imaging such as ultrasound may also be useful before reimplantation.
My advice would be to see a revision breast surgeon and discuss a staged, careful plan. Ask whether the remaining capsule should be removed, whether cultures will be taken, and what antibiotic strategy will be used. A new implant can be considered, but only when there is no sign of ongoing infection.

Yasemin Aydinli, MD · Answer

Infection after breast surgery is almost always related to the surgical period itself, it is not something that keeps coming back randomly years later. Six months after removal with a healed, calm breast, reimplantation is generally reasonable, and the recurrence risk is low when the new operation is done with strict antibiotic and sterility protocols. The retained capsule is usually harmless, but in a breast with an infection history many surgeons prefer to remove it during reimplantation so no tissue that once harbored bacteria stays behind. A short antibiotic course around the new surgery is also a sensible extra precaution.

Yily De Los Santos, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

If the previous cellulitis was related to the breast implant or the surgical pocket, I would recommend being a little more cautious before placing a new implant.

The good news is that having had an infection does not automatically mean that you will develop another infection. In published data on patients who required implant removal because of infection and later had a new implant placed, recurrent infection was relatively uncommon, although the exact risk varies considerably depending on the individual circumstances.

What are the chances of cellulitis coming back with new implants?

Answers (3)

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