Do I have to receive antibiotic prophylaxis for breast implant removal?

Thank you for sharing your question. Best to have a single dose of oral antibiotics given prior to removal but otherwise you would not need them

Most surgeons would favor at least a single dose of antibiotics prior to making a surgical incision. Discuss your concerns with your surgeon who can review the risks and benefits of antibiotic prophylaxis.

Dear sky131,
every plastic surgeon has his own preoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

I would suggest discussing this with your surgeon since your surgeon only will be making the decision about antibiotics for you.

The use of antibiotics prophylactically varies by surgeon. If you have severe allergies I encourage you to speak to your surgeon about your situation. Together you can discuss the benefits/risks of not using the antibiotics as well as signs and symptoms of potential infection.

Thank you for your questions. Typically oral antibiotics are given any time a surgical incision is made. The skin is our protective barrier to bacteria. When an incision is made it allows bacteria to enter into the deeper tissues. In our office, we will often give just 2 to 3 doses of antibiotics by mouth if we are doing a case under local anesthesia. You should not need IV antibiotics for this type of procedure but I recommend discussing your concerns and history with your surgeon. They will know exactly how extensive your procedure is and the need for antibiotic use. Good luck!

A single dose of IV antibiotics given within 30 minutes prior to skin incision is routinely used to reduce the risk of surgical site infections. You should discuss with your surgeon based on your allergies which preop antibiotic he would recommend. Post-op antibiotics would likely not be recommended.

Dear Sky,
Most plastic surgeons routinely use prophylactic antibiotics in the majority of cases. I do not feel that they would be required for an implant removal.
Dr. Taranow