Women considering breast enhancement have many things to contemplate, from choosing the right timing to finding the right surgeon to deciding on the right technique. And within each of these decisions are plenty of other options to decide among, some of which you may not even be aware of. One choice you might not realize you and your surgeon have is the location of your incision. Depending on the type of breast enhancement you want, your current situation, and other factors, any one of the following incision locations might be best for you:
The most common breast augmentation technique is the inframammary approach. “Inframammary” means “under (infra) the breast (mammary).” As such, this technique entails a small incision in the crease underneath the breast (the inframammary fold), where the bottom of the breast meets the ribs. This is an ideal place for an incision, as the resulting one-to-two-inch scar is easily concealed, and the wide access point allows for added precision when placing implants. Furthermore, this approach has the lowest complication rates of the three major breast-augmentation incision types listed here.
For some patients, the peri-areolar approach may be the appropriate breast-augmentation technique. With this approach, I make an incision around the outer edge of the areola, usually when combining a breast augmentation with an areola reduction or breast lift. The difference in skin color where the areola transitions into the rest of the breast allows me to conceal the resulting scar.
The trans-axillary approach to breast augmentation involves making a small incision in the armpit, “trans” meaning “through” or “via” (in this case) and “axilla” being the technical name for the armpit area. This technique is often used in conjunction with tissue expanders. To achieve maximum precision, I utilize a specialized camera and dedicated instruments when performing trans-axillary breast augmentation. The resulting scar is inconspicuous in the underarm crease and avoids leaving any scarring on or near the breast.
If you’re interested in learning about how breast augmentation might help you reach your aesthetic goals, or if you’d like to inquire about any of the other cosmetic procedures I perform, contact me, Dr. Jim Namnoum, to schedule a consultation today. Also, don’t forget to connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more plastic surgery news and updates.
