All Breast Augmentation techniques use a small incision to insert the implant. The incision can be made in one of four places:
A permanent scar remains after surgery where each incision was placed. The teamgare experts at creating minimal scars that are beautifully concealed and virtually undetectable. The technique that is chosen for your surgery will therefore depend on:
It is possible that your breast enlargement may be suitable for more than one approach, in which case, you will be able to decide where you would prefer your scars to be concealed.
An incision is made in the armpit and a tunnel is then created into the space (the breast pocket) under the chest muscle. This approach is the best way to hide the scars; there are no scars on or under the breasts, and the scar in the armpit heals beautifully to a point where it is undetectable to the naked eye. For this reason, the Trans-Axillary technique can be described as a virtually scarless Breast Augmentation and is the preferred approach of the team..
Ideally healed transaxillary scar looks like a wrinkle in the armpit
A small incision is made around the lower border of the areola. This is an effective way to conceal the scar, especially in women who have a more pronounced contrast between the color of the areola and skin.
Peri-Areolar surgery is preferable in women who do not have a well defined breast fold and in whom an Infra-Mammary incision would therefore be difficult to hide.
PeriAreolar breast augmentation scar seen 2 years after surgery
Periareolar scar seen after 4 years. Over time the skin discoloration around the actual incision faded, and the incision itself is a very fine barely visible line.
A small incision is made within the breast fold, providing direct access and easy implant placement into the pocket either above or below the chest muscle.
This is the most popular approach to Breast Augmentation (for women having a well defined breast fold).
#tinyscar breast fold incision is the smallest possible incision for breast augmentation
An example of a slightly thickened, raised breast fold scar. It will benefit from Kenalog injections.
A small incision is made inside the belly button. A narrow tube is then temporarily placed under the skin towards the breast, through which a surgical instrument is inserted to create the pocket for the implant. A saline implant is then folded up and inserted through the tube into the pocket under the breast.
Dr. Jugenburg does not perform this approach because of its obvious limitations.
Silicone breast implants, which come in pre-filled profiles and sizes, require longer incisions than saline implants. Saline implants are filled after insertion under the breast area resulting in a smaller incision. (i.e., once inside the breast). Larger silicone implants can be problematic for the Trans-Axillary approach; however, this will depend on the anatomy of each patient.
All Breast Augmentation procedures are performed using the No-Touch Technique. Using this technique, breast implants are transferred from their sterile packaging directly into the breast pocket to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination and therefore, Capsular Contracture formation. For further information, please refer here.
The Bloodless Breast Augmentation technique, which is believed to lower the risk of Capsular Contracture, is useful for surgery performed through the areola (Peri-Areolar) or breast fold (Infra-Mammary), but is not compatible with surgery performed through the armpit (Trans-Axillary). For further information, please refer here.
In addition to the team ‘s expertise at creating beautifully concealed, virtually undetectable scars, we sell the silicone-based skin gel Strataderm to all our patients. Although vitamin E, Bio-Oil and other products are available over the counter, silicone creams and gels are the only substances shown to be effective in scientific studies for surgical scars.
The average length of incision is 3 – 4 cm (1 – 1.5 in), but the length of your scars will depend on your chosen breast implant profile, size and type. Saline implants of all sizes typically require very small incisions, whereas silicone implants require longer incisions and a skilled Plastic Surgeon, such as the team, to effectively conceal them.
Following surgery, Breast Augmentation scars are red and normally a little raised, but over 3 – 6 months they usually fade and flatten out, becoming thin, barely visible lines. For all incision placements, the scars are usually beautifully concealed within the natural contours of a woman’s body.
All scars are visible initially following surgery.
Past scarring from previous injuries and/or surgeries may be indicative of how prone an individual may be to visible scarring and can influence the decision on where best to make the incisions during Breast Augmentation surgery.