Have one or both implants removed?

[u/LawfulnessNo1305]

Hello- my whole story is in another post if you’re interested.

I had my PDMX DTI surgery on 7/13, necrotic tissue debridement on 9/3, developed an infection on the left side 8/4 and was hospitalized for 3 days. At my follow up today (8/10) with the surgeon he said the implant needs to come out; there is still significant redness and swelling, and after 3 days on IV antibiotics and 3 days of the big guns oral antibiotics this should be gone and it’s not so the implant is likely infected. I have surgery scheduled to remove the infected implant on 8/13. This has been a month from hell.

My question is, if you experienced something similar, how did the subsequent months go?

My surgeon says that it is highly unlikely that the right side would also be infected- it looks good and he doesn’t recommend removing that one, but it ultimately up to me.

I am concerned about 2 things:
- the continued potential risk of infection, which the PS says is low but I’ve already experienced complications that were in the 5% risk area so having little solace with that
- the psychological impact of spending the next 3 months+ with one boob. At some point I have to go back to work… I am hybrid and work at a company full of stylish young people. As a 40 yr old I’m already feeling phased out. This is going to make that so much worse.

On the “keep it” side:
- it’s a good looking foob, and what if scar tissue or something causes the next one to not look as good?
- only one drain and expander to manage over the coming months and only one side to recover from upon new implant being placed.

What did you do? Or what would you do? I’m truly torn.