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Bleeding and Infection after breast implant surgery

Two of the most concerning and frightening complications of any surgery are uncontrolled bleeding and infection. These two risks can occur with any type of surgery, not just breast implant surgery. Fortunately, bleeding and infection are very rare in breast implant surgery.

Bleeding problems may occur during the breast implant surgery or after the breast implant surgery has been completed. Any significant bleeding problem that occurs during a breast augmentation is almost always controllable as long as it is identified. Plastic surgery techniques that place the breast implants without being able to visualize the surgical area, increase the risk of unidentified bleeding. Significant bleeding that occurs after a breast augmentation surgery is an emergency. This type of bleeding after breast augmentation will be noticed as one breast mound becomes markedly larger than the other. This is typically not a subtle difference but rather a dramatic difference. When this occurs it will require a second surgery.

Bleeding from breast implant surgery will typically result in bruising. Dark bruising or lighter discoloration may occur. If dark bruising occurs within a few hours of the surgery and covers a large area on the breast it is more concerning and needs to be evaluated. If the breast implant was placed under the muscle, the bruising will first appear along the side of the breast especially if the incision was placed under the breast. If an incision was made around the areola, then there can be bruising on the underside of the breast.

Slight bruising after breast implant surgery is not necessarily indicative of an active bleeding problem. This is especially true if the bruising occurs a few days after the breast implants were placed. This type of bruising is usually from a smaller blood vessel that was cut close to the skin or in the fat of the breast or chest wall. These types of vessel injuries are made while tunneling to place the breast implant. These particular types of smaller bruises are rarely problematic. This type of bruise is usually just some blood that has drifted towards the skin. However, if there is ever a concern about a bruise it is always safest to notify your plastic surgeon.

Infections of the breast that occur after a breast implant has been placed are very concerning to the woman as well as the plastic surgeon. This dreaded complication is fortunately very rare. If it does occur the breast implant will usually have to be taken out. Infections can appear in two different fashions. The first and more common presentation is in the early recovery phase. It will usually occur within the first few days to weeks. The woman is usually not feeling well, has a fever, and the breast and breast skin can be tender and look sunburned. In this situation, it is usually best to remove the breast implant. It will typically have to remain out for a few months and the woman will be on antibiotics for a month or so. The breast implants can then be put back in.

A less common presentation of a breast implant infection is the smoldering or low grade infection. This type of infection will typically have a different history. The woman may not have any remarkable memories of the early post operative course. Over time she may remember not feeling well or may have no symptoms until her breast implant erodes through the skin. The skin and the breast tissue that surrounded the area of break down may be very thin. There is definite tissue loss when this occurs. In this situation, the breast implant needs to be removed and all the infected tissues need to be cut out. She will have a contour deformity in the breast. The breast implant can be replaced after a few months and the breast tissues have softened to a natural feel. These types of infections and infections in general are very rare occurrences.