For Nipple Incision Breast Implants Why Do They Only Cut Half the Nipple?

Question

Armando Soto, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi there-

	Unless it is necessary to reduce the nipple/areolar diameter, there is no reason to make the incision any longer, and most patients are happier with a shorter scar.

Gregory T. Lynam, MD · Answer

The doctor only needs a short incision to be able to do the surgery and place the implants which is why a longer cut is not needed. I hope this helps.

Michael Law, MD · Answer

Peri-areolar incision

	This is made at the border of the areola, from about the 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock position. It works nicely for patients with larger areolar diameters (4.0 cm or larger), as if often the case after pregnancy and lactation. The color difference between areolar skin and breast skin nicely conceals the scar in most cases, and in many patients the scar is almost undetectable within just a few weeks or months of surgery. This incision truly has the possibility of producing a scar that is ultimately invisible or almost invisible.

	A theoretical downside with this incision is that it by definition requires the division of milk ducts when the breast tissue is dissected down to the pectoralis major muscle, and this may interfere with future attempts at breast feeding. There are some who believe that this incision carries a higher risk for capsular contracture as bacteria may be present in the milk ducts which could possibly adhere to the implant surface during breast augmentation surgery, which may over time lead to contracture. The latter is a theoretical concern, and it has not been conclusively shown that the peri-areolar approach has a higher rate of capsular contracture than the axillary and inframammary fold approaches. The peri-areolar incision is therefore still frequently used, as the aesthetic outcomes are usually excellent.

Robert Brueck, MD · Answer

They usually only go half way around because that is really all you need to do so we always try to minimize the scars.

Anire Okpaku, MD FACS · Answer

There are several reasons behind a small semicircular incision on the nipple.  The first is that the tissue stretches a bit.  The second is that implants are flexible.  The third has to do with geometry.  But rest assured except for in extreme cases, most implants can be put through a nipple aeorla incision.

	 

	Good luck and thank you for your question.

	 

	Sincerely,

	 

	Anire Okpaku MD

	 

	Hay varias razones por las cuales se hace una pequena incision semicircular en en el pezon. La primera es que los tejidos se estiran un poco; la segunda es que los implantes so flexibles; la tercera tiene que ver con geometria. Pero quedese segura de que excepto algunos caso, la mayoria de los implantes pueden sen introduzidos por una incision del pezon/areola.

	 

	Suerte y gracias por su pregunta.

	 

	Atentamente,

	 

	Anire Okpaku MD

For Nipple Incision Breast Implants Why Do They Only Cut Half the Nipple?

Answers (8)

Answer: Nipple incision for implants

Answer: Nipple incision for implants

Answer: Small nipple incision for breast aug / Incision pequena del pezon para cirujia de aumento de senos

Answer: Small nipple incision for breast aug / Incision pequena del pezon para cirujia de aumento de senos

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

For Nipple Incision Breast Implants Why Do They Only Cut Half the Nipple?

Answers (8)

Answer: Nipple incision for implants

Answer: Nipple incision for implants

Answer: Small nipple incision for breast aug / Incision pequena del pezon para cirujia de aumento de senos

Answer: Small nipple incision for breast aug / Incision pequena del pezon para cirujia de aumento de senos

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.