Best incision for breast implants
There are advantages and disadvantages to each of the incisions used for access for placement of breast implants.
In my experience, the vast majority of patients who choose the axillary incision are left with virtually no scar at all once it is healed. In other words, it looks like the crease that is anatomically there under the arm- and no visible scar.
In an experienced surgeons hands, this access incision should yield the same results as any other access incision.
Bottom line: when the arm is lifted, no scar is visible.
The areola incision typically heals well too, to where it is difficult to tell there is a scar, since it is placed on the border between 2 different skin tones.
Best per-areaolar incision for breast implants
This incision, however, has a slightly higher risk of loss of nipple sensation, which is not an acceptable risk to some women.
The one factor to consider would be if future surgeries are necessary, the ramifications of the original incision. This should be discussed with the operating surgeon. But in the end, it is the choice of your wife, and her surgeon! (Amy T. Bandy, DO, FACS, Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon)
Choosing the best incision for breast implants
There are basically four choices of incision for placing breast implants
- inframammary
- per-areaolar
- transaxillary
- trans-umbilical.
Best transaxillary incision for breast implants
Choosing the best incision for placement of the implants which is best in any given situation can be affected by many factors – these can be broken down into patient specific factors and surgeon specific factors. Patient specific factors include ethnicity and tendency for poor scarring (some ethnic groups have a propensity for hypertophic or even keloid scarring), pre-existing anatomy (e.g. Is a given patient’s areolae large enough for placement of a pre-filled silicone implant?)
Surgeon specific factors tend to include the biases and experience of the surgeon, which should not be discounted or taken lightly. My personal experience after over 3000 breast augmentation is that inframammary and peri-areolar incision give the most control over the breast implant pocket and that transaxillary and trans-umbilical incision have a higher revision rate. (W. Tracy Hankins, MD, Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon)
Best inframammary incision for breast implants
You are in a sticky place my friend.it is her body and she obviously has her reasons for wanting that best incision – but I am sure that you have done a fair amount of research yourself. I would recommend meeting with your surgeon again and reviewing the pros and cons of each incision and also ask if your surgeon has a preference based on her anatomy.
If you want to take it one step further, you may ask your surgeon if this patient was his spouse (this will only work if your surgeon is a male, by the way) where would he put the incisions. Ultimately, it is up to her however, there are certainly benefits and risks to all surgery. Just make sure she’s choosing the best incision for the right reasons. (Thomas B. Lintner, MD, FACS, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)
Selecting breast implant augmentation surgery incisions
You should both meet with the plastic surgeon to understand the risks alternatives and benefits of each of the incisions and be aware that the surgeon is capable of performing any or all of these incisions. (Otto Joseph Placik, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)
