The scar left by an implant incision should not be noticeable once healed. However, the ultimate visibility of your scars will depends on several factors, including your incision placement (where each incision is located), your skin type, how you normally scar, and how large your incisions need to be to accommodate your breast implants.
In this article, we’ll review the three implant incision types and the sort of scarring you can expect after receiving breast implants.
Breast Incision Placement Options
There are three main types of implant incisions to choose from. You will work with Dr. Mason before your surgery to determine which is the best incision placement for you.
Inframammary Incision
The inframammary fold is located beneath the breast where the breast meets the chest. This area is also called the breast crease. Many breast augmentation surgeons like this option for an implant incision because it routinely creates symmetrical results with low visibility scarring.
The breasts create a natural shadow over this part of the abdominal wall. Therefore, once the implant incision healing process is over, the resulting scars are barely noticeable.
This is a great option for patients who hope to breastfeed in the future as the milk ducts are avoided altogether. Likewise, if the patient decides to get breast implant revision surgery in the future, her experienced plastic surgeon can typically use the same inframammary incisions for the subsequent surgery.
Finally, surgeons like this option because it allows direct access to the implant site. This means limited bleeding and precise breast implant placement.
One drawback to this option is the fact that the scar may (rarely) migrate upward on the breast once it has healed. It can also be more difficult to increase your breast implant size when you get this type of incision.
Periareolar Incision
The periareolar incision placement requires incisions to be made around the edge of the areolae — the darker colored skin around the nipples. Once healed, these incisions usually blend in very well with the darker colored areola skin.
If a modest breast lift and breast tissue adjustment is also needed, this can typically be done through inframammary incisions as well. In addition, if you decide to get a breast implant revision in the future (to change implants), it’s usually possible to reuse the same incision location.
Unfortunately, some patients report changes in nipple sensation because of the trauma to nerve endings here, and this incision option has sometimes been positively correlated with the risk of capsular contracture.
Likewise, this may not be the best incision location for breast augmentation procedures if you plan to breastfeed in the future; this option has been known, in rare cases, to cause problems when nursing. Lastly, keep in mind that some implant insertion can’t happen through an incision type that is this small. Larger silicone breast implants, for example, will need a larger opening.
Transaxillary Incision
Lastly, transaxillary incisions are made within the armpits. Implant placement with these incisions can sometimes be difficult because the implants must be placed and adjusted from the armpit instead of directly on the breast.
This makes using the dual plane positioning of implants especially hard, and this is unfortunate because many plastic surgeons particularly like the dual plane option. Dual plane implant placement places the upper part of each implant beneath the pectoral muscle and the lower portion right under the breast tissue.
Still, the great advantage of the transaxillary incision is that there are no scars on the breast with this option. Patients are free to wear low-cut tops and any type of undergarment or bathing suit without risking visibility of a scar on the breast. Just note that incisions do need to be placed in the armpit, and in some cases, these incisions may be visible.
FAQ: Breast Augmentation Surgery
What is the most common incision for breast implants?
The most common incision placement for breast implants is likely below the breasts in the inframammary fold. This is sometimes referred to as the crease incision. Of course, incisions that go around the outer edge of the areolae (periareolar incisions) and incisions in the armpit (transaxillary incisions) are common as well.
What is a trans umbilical breast augmentation procedure?
The TUBA incision (trans umbilical breast augmentation incision) is an incision for silicone or saline implants that is placed within the belly button.
Are breast augmentation infections common?
No. While it is possible to get an implant incision infection during your breast augmentation recovery, it is extremely rare. Symptoms would include a high fever, drastically uneven swelling, severe pain that isn’t helped with pain medications, and very red and warm-to-the-touch skin around the infected site.
You may see implant incision infection pictures online that worry you. Remember that if you are at all concerned about your implant incision healing improperly or you suspect an infection, you should contact your surgeon directly for further instruction.
Which breast implants have the least risk?
Saline and silicone breast implants are both safe breast implants with a solid track record. Ongoing research ensures their safety and performance.
Call Today to Schedule Your Consultation Appointment
Breast augmentation incisions are something that patients frequently ask about when looking into this surgery. Most women want to know that their breast augmentation incision will not be very noticeable.
And certainly, in addition to choosing between saline or silicone implants and selecting the best implant size for you, deciding on an optimal incision placement is very important.
If you would like to learn more about breast augmentation incision options, breast implant scars, and breast enhancement surgery in general, please contact us today to schedule a personal breast augmentation consultation appointment with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rachel Mason in Las Vegas. We look forward to hearing from you!