What Does Inframammary Incision Mean?

Hi there-

Inframammary means "under the breast", and when referring to an incision location for breast augmentation, it means the incision is in the fold under the breasts.

The advantages and disadvantages of the options available for incision placement would best be reviewed with your surgeon of choice, as his or her skills and experience will affect these significantly, but here is some general information...

The inframammary incision has the advantage of being in a location where it will never be seen (even nude) unless you lift the breast. It usually heals very well and provides simple and wide access to the pocket, and has a very low risk of complications. It is the most widely used location and the one with which we as a surgical community have the most experience.

The peri-areolar incision (around the nipple) is also a good option, but if healing is less than ideal it may be more visible than you would prefer, and as it is located on the focal point of the breast, this may be a significant problem. Some also think that the risk of losing feeling in the nipple is higher when this incision is used, but I think this is experience dependent. The dissection is a bit more tricky, and may expose the implant to bacteria in the breast ducts, which some believe increases your risk of capsular contracture. Also, if a problem were to develop, a second incision (usually under the breast) is usually necessary to treat it.

The axillary approach has gained favor, and has the advantage of moving the scar far away from the breast itself, but in my opinion this option, as well as the umbilical option, make it more difficult to achieve the lovely breast shape that is the goal of every patient. It is also my opinion that the shape of the breast is far more important than the location of the scar (in other words, if you have a funny breast shape, but a scar in your armpit or around your belly button and not on your breast, you'll likely still be unhappy).

Again, I recommend you review these options with a surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (and you should definitely ask what board they were certified by) and make the choice that you think will be best for you.

Inframmary crease refers to the incision point which is at the bottom of the breast. To ensure that this is the best incision type for you, consult with 3 - 4 experienced and expert board certified plastic surgeons.