Breast Enlargement

Central Florida including Orlando and Winter Park, FL

Breast Augmentation Incision Placement

All breast augmentation procedures require an incision and therefore will leave a short scar. Using special instrumentation and gentle technique, the scars are rarely a concern, usually healing in a way that they are difficult to see, but they will inevitably be present and do vary amongst individuals. At the Bougainvillea Clinique we allow you to decide on the incision you prefer.

The four incision sites normally used are:

• Inframammary incisions are located at the fold under the breasts. This is the most common incision site for breast augmentation in the US because it is at the breast, allows easy access and is well concealed. This is the incision we most frequently recommend for gel implants.
• Periareolar incisions are located just under the areola, concealed in the area where the skin rises and changes color.
• Transaxillary incisions are located in the armpit, away from the breast.
• TUBA stands for TransUmbilical Breast Augmentation, and the incision is located in the navel. This type of incision is only suitable for saline implants.

Although all four options are good ones, they may not all be good ones for you, depending on a number of factors. We recommend one chooses the incision that allows the surgeon to create the best shape and symmetry. Individuals that have asymmetrical, uneven or poor shape are not usually good candidates for TUBA or transaxillary incisions.

Type of Implant

If you want a gel implant, the only incision Orlando Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Hartog recommends is the inframammary incision. Gel implants come from the factory fully filled, so they require a longer incision for insertion. Attempting to insert gel implants through a smaller incision leads to a greater likelihood of damage to the implant and possible early rupture. Saline implants are initially deflated, then filled with sterile saline solution during the operation, which makes them ideal for insertion through smaller incisions such as the areolar, axillary, and TUBA incisions.

Existing Breast Shape

If your current breasts are uneven, either the inframammary or periareolar incision is best. It may be more difficult and therefore less predictable to correct asymmetry or undesirable breast shape using either the transaxillary or TUBA incision. Both these approaches are done with an endoscope or surgical telescope, and it is not possible to get 360 degree visualization of the breast pocket using an endoscope. It is also hard to reshape the breasts using these more distant incisions, so if you are hoping to improve the shape or symmetry of your breasts with breast augmentation, the inframammary or periareolar incision are usually recommended.

Breast Implant Size and Placement

Contrary to some internet rumors, none of the incisions restrict either the size of breast implants or the placement of the breast implant at least with saline implants. Gel implants on the other hand should never be placed through shorter incisions due to the risk of damage to the implant and possible early rupture.

If you would like to learn more about the different types of breast implants incisions or other breast enlargement options, please schedule a breast augmentation consultation with Florida Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Hartog today. We look forward to hearing from you. Contact us if you are in the Central Florida area including Orlando and Winter Park, FL.