Breast Implants: Q&A

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Which is the Most Recommended Breast Implant Incision?

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procedure comparison options

13 Doctor Answers | Asked by natylu in florida

Doctor Answers (13)
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Incision choices

Of the 4 incisions that are available each surgeon will have preferences based on their training and their personal experiences. I would not use the belly button because it is too far away from the breasts to make extremely accurate pockets with no bleeding. This is what you need to have for an excellent result. The inframammary crease incision is excellent and any revision can be done through it if ever needed. The infraareolar incision also works well for the right patient. In my... more

Points to consider

Hi there- There are multiple options, and no one option is best for everyone. I agree with my colleague below that the umbilical scar is not the best, as it is much more difficult to accurately shape the breast from this distance, and in my opinion it does not make sense to compromise the outcome in the area of interest (the breasts) in order to have any particular scar. The scar around the nipple (peri-areolar) is a viable alternative, and need not necessarily compromise nipple sensation,... more

Make sure you have accurate information with incision choice

The previous post has good advice, but I have a few things to add. One is that you often see advice to avoid the periareolar incision (inaccurately called "through the nipple")because it has been associated with increased risk of loss of sensation to the nipple; this has been proven to be untrue in recent studies, so it is often the best choice. The periareolar incision does not increase the risk of numbness to the nipple. Darker skinned patients may be prone to hyperpigmented (darker) scars... more

For most women, short incision in the fold under breast is best for breast implants.

Hi. 1) Of couse it depends on your anatomy, and there is a lot of variation among surgeons. I think for most women a short incision in the fold under the breasts produces the best results. 2) Remember, if you are not happy with your breast implants, it will be because you don't like the shape or size, not because you don't like the scars. The scars should be very short, and they fade a lot.

Most popular Breast Implant incision

I never commit to just one approach because there are so many variables that may make one approach better than the other. In general I think that the two most common are either inframammary (under the breast fold) or periareolar (along the border of the areola).

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant incision a matter of opinion

Hello, As you can see by the difference in the answers here, the answer is a matter of opinion. I usually use the periareolar (in the pigmented area around the nipple) or inframammary (under the breasts). There is a discussion of risks and benefits and the choice relates to the patient's preferences...at least in my practice.

Choice of incision should be discussed after breast examination

There are three primary incisions for breast augmentation: in the armpit (axilla), under the breast, and around the aerolar/nipple complex. As anytime there is more than one choice, there are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. The armpit incision may leave a visible scar, which may show when wearing sleeveless tops and your arms are raised. The scar around the nipple aerolar area may have a higher incidence of loss of nipple sensation or feeling. Also, women with very small... more

Your choice

After you have considered the options and discussed them with your surgeon, choose the one that seems right to you. You have been given a lot of advice and now the choice is yours. Most surgeon don't recommend one site but they can tell you which one they do the most. The one incision site that is most requested by my patients is the inframammary fold site.

Marcus L. Peterson, MD

4 reviews

Saint George Plastic Surgeon

Most patients choose inframammary

Natylu: I have had training and experience in several parts of the country, and I compare practices with colleagues throughout the US. My impression is that the inframammary (under breast, not actually in the fold) approach is the most common. The other choices mentioned by other surgeons can all work well in the right patient by an experienced surgeon. That does not mean that any one patient will be able to choose any incision approach and obtain the same results. Some internal... more

In the breast fold

The most common incision site is in the breast fold. It is the best hidden, easiest access to any pocket, most versatile and easily used again in the future for implant replacement if needed. Other incision sites are around the areola which is the second most common, then the axillary incision and some may use the umbilical approach. Each has its own benefits depending your preference but make sure you go over all the options with your surgeon. Remember in the end you will have a scar no... more

Probably inframammary

Natylu, I would guess that the most recommended incision is the inframammary. For the surgeon, this is technically the easiest and therefore the most likely to be recommended on a mass basis. However, there is a strange (sarcasm) trend among us plastic surgeons to allow the patient to chose the incision that they would prefer. My practice is to present the advantages and disadvantages of each of the incisions to the patient and let them decide. When they decide on the inframammary... more

Breast Implant incision depends on your preference and anatomy

I most commonly place implants using a peri areolar incision, followed by an incision in the axilla (underarm) . In most patients the peri areolar incisions fades to a point where it is barely perceptable. Some patients prefer no incision on the breast whatsoever and in a patient like that, an incision in the underarm can provide an excellent result. For patients with very dark skin, an incision around the areola may result in a fine white line that would be fine for a light er skinned... more

Michael Law, MD

17 reviews

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

Location of breast augmentation incision is a lifestyle issue

Choosing an incision to use in augmentation of the breast can be a lifestyle issue for some patients. You are aware of the three most common approaches, inframammary, periareolar, and transaxillary, or under the breast, around the nipple, or under the arm. It is important to consider how you wear clothing, physical activities, who might see the scar or how it might show. There are no differences in capsule rate or nipple sensation between all incisions. The inframammary incision is the... more