Sheyla Hershey, a Brazilian model known for having what are believed to be the largest breasts in the world, experienced complications following her latest breast surgery.

Having undergone over 30 plastic surgeries, Hershey suffered her first complication during her most recent breast augmentation procedure when a severe staph infection reached both of her breasts, reports Fox News in Houston.

Hershey, who lives in Houston, has had to give herself infusions of intravenous antibiotics every 12 hours to fight the infection. She said her surgeon told her she should be concerned for her life because the infection could leak into her bloodstream. According to her website www.sheylahershey.net, she is currently undergoing treatment.

Is this type of complication common after breast surgery?

Dr. Michael Will, who performs breast augmentation and breast implant repairs in Frederick County, Maryland at his Ijamsville office, says that “infection related to breast augmentation is rare, and when encountered, the implants frequently need to be removed and replaced at a later date.”

He also stressed the importance of a thorough consultation with your doctor before undergoing breast surgery:

Breast augmentation procedures should be preceded by a comprehensive consultation between the cosmetic surgeon and the patient, where the patient’s concerns and expectations are discussed in relation to the patient’s breast and chest wall anatomy.

An effective evaluation and treatment plan should result in a post-operative outcome that reaches a balance between the patient’s expectations and the surgeon’s surgical and anatomical limitations to yield an esthetic and healthy outcome. When the surgical tissue tension and stress exceed the capacity for normal healing, wound breakdown and infection often develop.

Dr. Frenzel specializes in breast augmentation surgery and spent a year in a specialized cosmetic surgery fellowship to learn the art of aesthetic breast surgery, including breast augmentation.