Is the risk of infection increased when implant removal is performed in an office setting instead of a surgical setting?

Dear rdy2bemeagain,

generally speaking, implants can be removed under local anesthesia. However, with proper preoperative, perioperative and postoperative care the risk of infection can be reduced.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello,
Thank you for your question.
From a surgical infection control perspective, it is generally safe to have breast implants removed in an office-based setting under local anesthesia, provided the procedure is performed in a sterile, accredited environment equipped for minor surgery. The risk of infection remains low when strict sterile technique is followed, including the use of sterilized instruments, proper surgical draping, and adherence to aseptic protocols. This approach is typically appropriate for uncomplicated explant cases without capsulectomy or reconstruction. However, if the office is not accredited or the procedure is more complex, a hospital or ambulatory surgery center with full operating room sterility may be more appropriate to minimize infection risk.

Hello, please see the attached video that answers your question specifically in detail. It's great that you are considering all aspects of your surgery. Infection control is a valid concern. Generally, surgeries like implant removal are performed in a sterile environment, such as an operating room, to minimize the risk of infection. Make sure the facility is accredited and the provider has a strong track record of safety.

In either an office setting or an operating room, an excellent preparation of your skin and sterile draping around the incision sites should easily be able to be accomplished. Usually, implant removal is very simple and quick, and therefore with you taking a dose of antibiotics before the surgery, an excellent surgical prep of your skin with a wide sterile draping, the risk of infection should be very low and comparable in either setting. Best wishes.

Office setting versus OR should not matter as long as there is a dedicated procedure room in the office. I remove implants in our in office procedure room under local anesthesia under the same sterile conditions as in the operating room. The same sterilized tools and precautions are taken to ensure nothing is contaminated. I would not, however, place implants under only local anesthetic due to the risks of patients moving or contaminating the sterile field, and the inability to provide full pain relief, especially if the implants were placed under the muscle and required a bit of dissection.Infections can happen in any location with even the best sterile technique, however you want to make sure your surgeon is using all available resources at any location to reduce infection rates.

I have an operating room in my office and remove implants under local anesthesia with no infections. The risks increase when you are in an area that treats infected wounds or when the procedure is not done with best surgical techniques and equipment.

Safety is the number one goal in surgery. If your surgeon has an office surgical suite it is safe to perform minor surgeries that carry low risk under local anesthesia. Your surgeon should still employ meticulous sterile technique when performing your procedure. I encourage you to speak to your surgeon about your concerns. It is important that you are comfortable and confident as you prepare for surgery.

Infection rates with implant removal should be quite low. If a drain is placed the the risk of complications should be lower. Infections are more of an issue when placing implants.
Best,
Mats Hagström MD