Dallas – Fort Worth metroplex, Texas Breast Implants
If you are considering breast augmentation, you should be aware of all the surgical options that can help you get the best possible results from your procedure. This includes your choice of incision options. Most of us are not accustomed to the thought that we can select the site of our surgical incisions, but in breast augmentation your incision choice can have an impact on not just your surgical procedure, but on the quality and longevity of your results and therefore is important to understand.
This page contains some information on the incision options available, along with some basic descriptions of their benefits and drawbacks, but in order to get recommendations based on your anatomy and cosmetic goals, please schedule a breast implants consultation with Dr. Vasdev Rai in Dallas, Texas today.
Breast Augmentation Incision Options
Breast augmentation, like all surgery, will leave a scar. Due to Dr. Rai’s gentle touch and our quality follow-up care, this scar will likely be very faint, especially if you follow postsurgical incision care instructions. Choosing your breast augmentation incision lets you determine where this scar will be. The options available are:
- Under the breast (called the inframammary incision)
- Below the nipple (called the periareolar incision)
- In the armpit (called the transaxillary incision)
In every case, the incisions will be about 1-2 inches, depending on whether you chose saline or silicone breast implants.
Inframammary Incision
The incision below the breast is the most commonly-used incision site because it has a number of important benefits, including:
- Scar is concealed below the breast
- Gives high visibility to create space for breast implant
- Can be used for both saline and silicone gel breast implants
- In case revision surgery is necessary, can be used again
These benefits make the inframammary incision the incision of choice for most breast augmentations. It may not be the right decision for you if you do not have a well-defined breast crease, or if you are also looking to correct tuberous breasts with your breast augmentation.
Periareolar Incision
The periareolar incision is made around the lower portion of the nipple-areola complex. This incision allows the scar to be concealed in the change in height, color, and texture at the edge of the areola. The periareolar incision may be recommended for women who are looking to correct tuberous breasts. Many women fear that this incision may increase the chance they will be able to breastfeed after breast augmentation, but most studies show all incision locations have the same low risk for these complications. The periareolar incision may not be an option if your areolas are too small, and is not used for the placement of silicone gel breast implants.
Transaxillary Incision
The transaxillary incision is made in the armpit. The creation of the breast implant pocket is performed via endoscope, which allows Dr. Rai to view the site while he uses long surgical tools to perform the dissection. However, the transaxillary incision has a number of disadvantages:
- Scar under the arm will be regularly exposed
- More likelihood of asymmetry
- If revision surgery is necessary, another incision will be made
- Cannot be used with silicone breast implants
For these reasons, the transaxillary incision is falling out of favor among a number of surgeons.
Trust Your Surgeon’s Recommendations
In selecting a plastic surgeon for your breast augmentation procedure, it is important to select one whose judgment you trust to make recommendations about your breast augmentation procedure, including which incision is most likely to give you the results you desire.
Breast surgeon in Dallas, Dr. Vasdev Rai has been serving the people of Dallas, Fort Worth, and all of Texas as a board-certified plastic surgeon for 30 years. In the thousands of breast augmentation procedures he has performed, he has used all the above incisions as well as the transumbilical (in the navel) incision, which he no longer performs because he does not believe it gives quality results. He can help you understand how to get the best possible results from your breast augmentation. You can see examples of his work in our before and after gallery.
To learn more about Dr. Rai and whether he is the right surgeon for you, please call or email The Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas today to schedule your personal breast augmentation consultation.
