Infection After Breast Implant Reconstruction

As with any surgery, infection is a possible complication after breast implant reconstruction. 

Sometimes a bacterial infection can develop in the tissue around a breast implant or tissue expander days or weeks after breast reconstruction surgery. 

Signs of infection after breast surgery include:

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  a fever of 100.4 Fahrenheit or higher

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  breast pain

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  increased redness, swelling, or both of your reconstructed breast

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  new drainage from the incision

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  bruising

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  feeling cold or shivery

Sometimes a fever is the first sign that you might have an infection. Taking over-the-counter fever-reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen may mask an infection. It’s a good idea to call your surgical team immediately, even if you have no other signs of infection, to see if you need treatment. 

If you have an infection, your surgical team is likely to prescribe antibiotics and rest. If the infection doesn’t clear after about a week, your surgeon may need to clean out the infected tissue and remove the implant or tissue expander. After this surgery, you need to continue taking antibiotics either in pill form or intravenously.

Experts recommend waiting for up to three months after the infection has completely cleared to have breast reconstruction surgery again.

Experts recommend the following to lessen your risk of infection and irritation:

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  Don’t soak in a pool, bathtub, or hot tub until your surgical team tells you it’s safe, usually between six to eight weeks after surgery once your incisions and drain sites are fully healed. It's best to talk to your surgical team before you do.

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  Keep the incision site clean and dry and keep it covered with gauze until your surgeon tells you it's safe to stop doing so.

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  Don’t shave your underarms (or the underarm of the affected side) until your surgical team tells you it's safe, usually about two weeks after surgery. Experts recommend you use an electric razor to avoid cutting yourself.

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  Don’t use deodorant until after you put your bra on to keep it from getting on your incision, and don't use deodorant on the affected side at all if you have a break in the skin.