Breast Augmentation Incisions

Which Breast Augmentation Incision Should I Choose?

While there are many things for you to decide when planning your breast augmentation surgery, incision location always seems to be one of the most discussed. With that in mind, we've prepared this primer on the different incision types for you to use as an educational tool and guide. Remember, you must discuss these options with your plastic surgeon because individual factors may make one or another better for you. Only your plastic surgeon can tell you which may be best and why in your specific case.

Types of Breast Augmentation Incisions

You have 4 options for incision location if you are getting saline breast implants, 3 if your are getting silicone gel breast implants. The following provides a brief overview of each type for you. Click through the link on each name if you would like to learn more.

  • Inframammary Incision: Also known as breast crease or breast fold incision, your plastic surgeon makes this incision on the underside of your breast, near the breast crease.
  • Periareolar Incision: Your plastic surgeon makes this incision in the tissue surrounding your areola, the dark skin surrounding your nipple.
  • Transaxillary Incision: An incision made by your plastic surgeon in your armpit, away from the breast area.
  • TUBA (transumbilical breast augmentation): This is the only incision type not available with silicone breast implants. Your plastic surgeon will make an incision in your naval then slide your breast implant up to the chest area.

Loss of Sensation

Keep in mind that there is very little documentation to associate any particular incision with more or less risk of loss of nipple or other sensation. In fact, most plastic surgeons agree that loss of sensation has a lot more to do with breast implant size and surgical technique, both of which can dictate how large the area of insult to nerve endings will be inside the breast. Also, remember that there is no BEST incision. A very well healed incision in any location is better than a poor incision in any other location. Which incision is least noticeable is another variable that  depends on how it has healed, what you are wearing, etc. Your plastic surgeon should give you choices.

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