Breast Implant Incisions

Breast implant incisions vary from procedure to procedure and doctor to doctor. Surgical breast augmentation involves placing prosthetic breast implants into the body through surgical wounds called incisions. This incision acts as an entry point into the body through which the implant is positioned. Choosing the correct type of incision is an important part of the surgical process and should be a careful consideration, since the effects of this decision will affect the entire augmentation procedure and the final aesthetic results.

Types of Breast Implant Incisions

There are four possible primary entry points utilized to perform breast enlargement surgery:

* Inframammary incisions are positioned under the breast mound in the natural crease which if formed where the breast meets the lower chest wall. This approach allows easy access to the breast mound, but can leave a noticeable scar, especially in women with small breasts or dark skin tone. This incision can be utilized with saline or silicone breast implants. This type of incision can create weak supportive tissue in some women, but should not interfere with breastfeeding or nipple response.

* Periareolar incisions are placed around the nipple, usually in a crescent shape at the bottom half of the outer areola border. This incision may or may not leave a noticeable scar, but once again is often more noticeable in women who have darker skin tones. Incisions around the nipple can be used with saline or silicone implants, but can be made much smaller using saline filled shells, since they are inserted empty. Areolar incisions can affect nipple response and breastfeeding ability. Periareolar augmentation can easily be combined with a modified mastopexy during one procedure, using the same incision.

* Transaxillary incisions are placed in one of the natural folds occurring in the underarm. This procedure should be executed using an endoscope to visualize the implant pocket for accuracy and precision. Transaxillary incisions are not obvious unless the area is exposed to close inspection. The procedure can be accomplished using saline or silicone implants and the main complication involves implants which migrate out of the pocket, towards the armpit. This event is rare, but can occur and often necessitates an additional corrective operation.

* Transumbilical (TUBA) incisions are placed inside the navel. These small incisions are completely invisible and leave no obvious scars. The procedure should be performed using an endoscope to visualize the passageway to the implant pocket, as well as the pocket itself, to insure proper and symmetrical placement of the implants. TUBA can only be performed using saline implants since the shell must be inserted rolled up and empty.

Recommendation on Breast Implant Incisions

Finding the right surgical approach for you will involve some careful thought and some valuable advice from your plastic surgeon. Ask about the pros and cons of each option and determine which criteria are the most important for you. Some doctors only use certain incisions, so if you have already decided on your surgeon, your surgical options may be limited. Remember that each incision (except TUBA) will leave some type of scar. Placement of this scar is one of the most important factors in judging overall satisfaction from the augmentation procedure. This decision is not an easy one and time should be taken to make sure that the choice is truly the right one for you.

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Breast Implant Incisions to Breast Enlargement & Breast Implants
11/27/07 Revised 2/21/08