Posts Tagged ‘cosmetic’
Incision Site
Friday, July 1st, 2011
Breast Augmentation Incisions
The goal of most
breast augmentation
patients is to have the most natural-looking breasts with a minimal amount of scarring. Because scarring is such a hot topic in this type of cosmetic surgery, patients have several different breast incision options from which to choose in breast implant surgery.
Respectable cosmetic surgeons should always disclose full information to potential breast implant surgery patients regarding the pros and cons of the different incision options. These options include:
Inframammary Incisions
Inframammary incisions are made in the crease of the breast, where the breast meets the chest. This is a popular incision area because it allows the surgeon to have a great deal of control when placing the implant. It also allows the surgeon to do corrective procedures, if necessary, via the same incision area.
Scarring can be fairly well hidden in this type of incision.
Transaxillary Incisions
Transaxillary incisions are made in the folds of skin in the armpit and a path is created from the incision to the chest area. An endoscope is sometimes used to help guide the saline or silicone implant through the channel and into proper placement.
Scarring for this method is very well hidden. Most people will not associate a scar in this area with Breast Implants.
TUBA or Transumbilical Incisions
It may seem unbelievable, but breast implant incisions can actually be made in the navel (belly button). In the TUBA method, a pathway is created using an endoscope that runs from the navel incision, under the abdominal skin area, and up to the chest area. The surgeon can then insert an empty saline implant through the navel, through the tunnel and into proper place. Once the implant is in place, it can be filled with the saline solution to achieve the desired size. Silicone implants cannot be used with this method.
There is little to no visible scarring with the TUBA method. However, because the distance between the incision and the chest area is longer, this is a very complex method that requires a surgeon with extensive experience performing this procedure.
Periareolar Incisions
The periareolar method, also called a nipple incision, is actually not performed on the nipple but rather around the areola. The incision allows the surgeon to work directly at the implant location site, making this method a popular one.
Nipple incisions also tend to be a surgeon’s choice when performing a breast lift in conjunction with a breast enlargement because breast lifts are often performed with this type of incision.
The scarring can be virtually unnoticeable because the incision is created at the edge of the darker areola.
Not all patients will scar the same way after breast augmentation surgery. Likewise, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to breast implant incision locations. This is a personal decision that must be carefully discussed with the patient and surgeon, taking into consideration a person’s lifestyle, skin tone, anatomy, size and type of implants and healing capacity.
About the Author
If you have been contemplating breast implant surgery and want to learn all the facts, please visit the website of Park Avenue Plastic Surgery near Orlando, Florida. A free breast implant consultation from board-certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Joseph is just a few clicks away.
Breast Implant Incision Site – Under the Breast Fold
