Breast Incision Types

One of the most important decisions made during the breast augmentation process is which type of incision a patient will receive. The decision is based either on the preference of the surgeon performing the augmentation or on the individual case of the patient. In general, there are four common breast implant incisions used by surgeons:

Periareolar Incision

In this method, the surgeon makes the incision around the outline of the areola which is the pink or brown area that surrounds the nipple. The incision is made between the dark area of the areola and the skin surrounding that area. The incision is made here in order to minimize the visibility of the incision. There are a few risks with having a periareolar incision and they include:
  • Up to 5% of patients can lose their nipple sensation after the incision
  • 20% of patients are unable to breast feed after having this type of incision
Even with these risks, the periareolar incision does allow a surgeon to have greater control over the position of the implant as well as more accuracy when placing the implant and less scarring visibility following the procedure.

Transaxillary Incision

This type of incision is made in the natural fold of the armpit tissue once a channel is created from the armpit to the breast. After the incision is made, the implant is placed behind the nipple. The incision and implant placement are sometimes made through the use of an endoscope. There is rarely any breast scarring as a result of this incision since it is performed a good distance from the breast. It is important to know that there is a risk of asymmetry being an issue once the implant is placed and in position.

Inframmary Incision

This incision is performed along the bottom of breast by placing the incision along the crease or fold of the breast where the breast and skin come together. A pocket to place the implant is created by the surgeon who then slides it in an upward direction through the incision site in order to place it behind the nipple. An inframmary incision can leave a scar along the lower portion of the breast in the area where the bra strap lies. However, the scar is easy to hide underneath a bra and even under the top of a swimsuit. Many surgeons like to use the inframmary incision method as it allows them to work closer to the breast area and it also gives them an opportunity for greater accuracy and higher visibility when placing the implant.

TUBA Incision

A TUBA incision is also known as a trans-umbilical breast augmentation. The cut for the incision is made on the navel rim as well as under the skin through a fatty tissue area. An endoscope is used to allow the surgeon to easily move through the path that leads from the navel to the breast. A pocket is then created so the breast implant can be inserted through the incision and placed behind the nipple. The TUBA incision is known as a blind procedure because it requires the use of an endoscope by the surgeon to accurately place the breast implant. In turn, this can lead to issues with accurate placement of the implant which can result in breast asymmetry. It should be noted that the TUBA incision does not require any incisions in the breast area so there is almost a 100% guarantee that breast scarring will not be among the visible results of the procedure.

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