Infections of breast implants in aesthetic breast augmentations: a single-center review of 3,002 patients.

[BACKGROUND] A large retrospective analysis examined primary aesthetic breast augmentations to find specific factors that could favor or counteract the occurrence of infections.

[METHODS] Data were collected from the personal databases of two different surgeons at the Crown House Hospital, Oldbury, Birmingham, United Kingdom, from January 1999 to December 2004. All the patients who received primary aesthetic breast augmentation with or without associated mastopexy were recorded.

[RESULTS] A total of 3,002 women were reviewed. Infections were experienced by 33 patients (1.1%). The analysis showed that Mentor prostheses and local antibiotics both were protective against the occurrence of infections (p < 0.05). On the contrary, the use of drains significantly increased the risk fivefold (p < 0.05).

[CONCLUSIONS] The incidence of infections in aesthetic breast augmentations is 1.1%, and Mentor prostheses, antibiotics in the pocket, and the use of drains seem associated with their occurrence.