We are leaders in cosmetic surgery, facial aesthetics, and medically supervised weight loss, serving the entire San Francisco Bay area. Whether you live in the Bay Area or are coming in from out of town, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have on your path to your new self. Book your cosmetic surgery intro call or Med Spa consultation today and take the first step towards realizing the look you’ve always wanted for yourself.
Breast Reconstruction for Infected Breasts?
This is a legitimate concern and worth working through carefully. The first question is whether a partial mastectomy removing the scarred, previously infected tissue can leave enough of a breast mound to reconstruct, or whether a larger resection is needed. That distinction drives the rest of the plan.
As for implants versus your own tissue: in a breast with a history of recurrent infection, autologous reconstruction is generally favored. Your own tissue arrives with its own blood supply, which helps it fight infection and heal reliably. Implants are foreign material, and foreign material in a field with prior infection is more vulnerable to bacterial colonization and biofilm, which can lead to recurrent problems.
For smaller defects, a latissimus dorsi flap (using back muscle and sometimes skin) can rebuild the area nicely. For larger defects, pedicled TRAM, free TRAM, or DIEP flaps all work well. Clearing any active infection first is essential, and this will likely take more than one surgery. A consultation with exam and imaging will help refine the plan.
Clinical Context
After an infection, reconstruction planning depends on how much tissue needs to be removed, how healthy the remaining skin is, and how much donor tissue is available elsewhere on your body. Implants are foreign material, so if any bacteria remain in the area, they're more prone to becoming infected again. That's a key reason surgeons often prefer using your own tissue in these cases. A physical exam and imaging help determine the safest, most reliable option before appearance is considered.
