What Are My Breast Augmentation Incision Options?

    TAMPA, FL, November 02, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- If you are considering breast augmentation, you have probably begun to understand that there are a lot of options for getting the right procedure for you, one that helps you transform your body into one that matches your cosmetic ideals while remaining consistent with the rest of your figure. Breast augmentation is a procedure where you can even choose your surgical incision. Since most people are unused to making this type of decision (normally your doctor chooses where to cut you during surgery), a quick guide is often helpful.

Breast Augmentation Incision Options

There are three common incision options for breast augmentation:

- Inframammary (in the crease between the breast and chest)
- Periareolar (around the lower portion of the nipple-areola)
- Transaxillary (in the armpit)

There is also a fourth incision that can be used, the transumbilical or TUBA incision, where the breast implant is placed through the belly button. However, this variation has fallen into disfavor and is not recommended by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Inframammary Incision

The inframammary is the most common incision used for breast augmentation. Most surgeons prefer it because it gives good visibility during formation of the breast pocket, it is easy to lengthen the incision to accommodate the use of silicone gel breast implants, and the scar is generally well-concealed.

Some surgeons, however, do not like this incision because they believe it weakens support under the breast implant. It may also not be recommended for women who do not have a well-defined breast crease.

Periareolar Incision

The periareolar incision is also very common for breast augmentation. It also gives good visibility of the breast pocket and allows for the surgeon to create good symmetric results. Because the scar is concealed in the changing height, color, and texture of skin between the areola and the breast, it is not as visible as you might expect for being front and center on the breast.

One of the main limitations of the periareolar incision is that your areolae may not be large enough to accommodate the incision for the breast implants you desire if you are looking to have silicone breast implants. The periareolar incision has a bad reputation because a few studies show it is more likely to result in certain complications, such as changes in nipple sensitivity and breastfeeding problems. Some studies also show that exposure to bacteria in the milk ducts may lead to an increased risk of infection and capsular contracture. However, these increased risks only show up in some studies and are therefore not universally accepted.

Transaxillary Incision

The transaxillary incision is less common. It was developed primarily for women who want breast augmentation but do not want to have a scar on their breasts. The transaxillary incision accomplished this.

However, the transaxillary incision actually backfires for most women. If you have poor scarring, the armpit is a much more public place to have it--you will be self-conscious every time you wear a sleeveless dress or blouse. In addition, the transaxillary incision limits your breast implant choices to either saline breast implants or small silicone implants. And the transaxillary incision is associated with higher rates of asymmetric breast implants. All these factors make the transaxillary incision unpopular among surgeons and most patients.

Let Your Doctor Make the Call

There is a reason why the doctor makes the decision about incision placement in most surgeries. With their training and experience, they draw on a wide variety of factors to make the decision about the best incision for you. Your plastic surgeon is the most important decision you will make about your breast augmentation, and if you find one you can trust, he will help you determine the best incision for your procedure.

To learn more about breast augmentation in Tampa, please visit the website of Gayoso Plastic Surgery today at http://gayosoplasticsurgery.com.

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