Your Guide to Breast Augmentation Incisions

Getting a breast augmentation in the Panama City-Pensacola area is an exciting process that can better your life in many ways. For some patients, choosing the incision location is the most important decision they must make, while for others it may be an afterthought. However, all patients should take careful consideration in choosing their incision location. Here, I’ll discuss the 3 different options with their pros and cons:

• Transaxillary Incision (No Scar on the Breast® Technique): This incision is made in the natural folds of the armpit. Your surgeon will make the incision and create a channel to the breast, forming a pocket behind the breast for the implant. Most surgeons use saline implants with this method because the shell can be inserted empty and filled once in place, which allows the incision to be kept quite small. Many women prefer this incision because the breasts are left looking untouched, with the scar hidden in the armpit. It is also less likely to result in damage to the mammary glands, a benefit for women who want to have children in the future. This incision location can only be used once, so if you need a breast revision in the future, a new incision will need to be made. Sometimes surgeons also report that achieving breast symmetry with this technique is more challenging.
• Inframammary Fold (IMF): This is one of the most common incisions used for breast enlargements with implants. It provides good exposure for creating an implant pocket with the least amount of bleeding. It also avoids the course of the nerve to the nipple most of the time, and it does not cut through breast tissue and milk ducts, so you can breastfeed after. The scar is not visible unless you lift your breasts. Sometimes this incision is hard to revise later on, but otherwise it can be a great option.
• Periareolar Incision: This incision is made at the outer edge of the areola. Then your surgeon creates a pocket and slides the implant through the incision, making sure it is in place. The scar is usually camouflaged by the darker color of the border of the areola. The incision location can be reused in the case of future surgeries on the breast. However, this kind of incision is more likely than the others to sever milk ducts and nerves in the nipple, which could lead to complications with breastfeeding.

You can see how some of these incisions appear in real life by viewing our before-and-after photo gallery.

During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss the type of incision that best suits your body and goals. They may also discuss whether your breast augmentation goals can be enhanced with a breast lift; you can read more about these options in this related blog post.

Caring for Your Incisions

Taking proper care of your incisions is very important for your recovery. Avoiding infection is the primary goal in caring for your breast implants. Signs of infection include a high fever; vomiting; and hot,  tender skin near the incisions. Seek medical care if signs of infection appear.

Some tips to keep in mind while caring for your incisions include:

• Do not expose your incisions to direct sunlight because it can cause hyperpigmentation, which will make the scars look worse.
• Do not wear an underwire bra because it could irritate the incisions if they are in the inframammary folds.
• Do not take a bath unless you can keep the incisions dry. Instead, take showers or sponge baths until your surgeon says otherwise.

If you would like to learn more about this subject or want to talk about your surgical options, request a consultation or call our office at (805) 654-1194.