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Infection risks and antibiotic resistance for tummy tuck and breast implants?

Infection risks and antibiotic resistance for tummy tuck and breast implants?

Infection risks and antibiotic resistance for tummy tuck and breast implants?

Q: I’m considering a mommy makeover and I’m wondering about risks regarding infection. I keep hearing that there are more and more infections that don’t respond to antibiotics. If I got implants now, how concerned should I be that when it’s time for them to be removed that the operation would be much more dangerous?

A: This is a great question. It shows that you are approaching your upcoming makeover with the proper mindset. Plastic surgery is real surgery and carries some risks including the risk of infection. That risk, however, is quite low. Like most of my colleagues, I treat my patients with IV antibiotics just prior to surgery. Your skin is thoroughly cleansed before any surgery and implants are washed with an antibiotic prior to insertion. I also prescribe oral antibiotics for the first few post-operative days. The risk of acquiring an antibiotic resistant organism is generally lower in outpatient surgery centers than in the hospital setting. Even though the overall risk of infection is quite low, it does tend to be one of the more common postoperative complications. That is because most plastic surgery patients are healthy so other complications are even rarer. Best wishes!