Breast Augmentation Techniques
Breast augmentation is most commonly an outpatient procedure. Breast augmentation is performed either under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. It takes place in an office-based surgical suite, a free-standing ambulatory or a hospital surgical facility.
An overnight hospital stay is occasionally recommended after breast augmentation surgery especially if the patient has had other procedures performed.
During a breast augmentation the breast implants be placed via various types of incisions. The main four breast augmentation techniques are:
- Inframammary breast augmentation technique: under the breast
- the Transaxillary breast augmentation technique: under the arm
- the Transumbilical breast augmentation technique: belly button
- Periareolar breast augmentation technique: around the areola
Additionally there are other breast augmentation techniques that are variations of the ones mentioned above.
Inframammary Breast Augmentation Technique
The most common breast augmentation technique is the Inframammary technique, which inserts the implant in the fold where the breast meets the chest wall. This breast augmentation technique leaves no visible scars.
In the Inframammary (IMF) breast augmentation technique an incision is placed below the breast in the infra-mammary fold. This incision is the most popular approach to breast augmentation. Although the scars are not on a visible location, this breast augmentation method can leave slightly more visible or thicker scars than other breast augmentation techniques.
The Inframammary breast augmentation technique gives the breast augmentation surgeon maximum access for precise dissection and placement of an implant. This breast augmentation technique is often preferred for silicone gel implants due to the longer incisions required with this type of breast implant.
With the Inframammary breast augmentation technique there is less impact to milk production with this breast augmentation technique because neither the glandular tissue nor innervation is affected during breast augmentation surgery. However, if the breast implant is placed on top of the pectoral muscle, it can exert pressure on the ducts and glands, which may reduce milk production during breastfeeding.
Periareolar Breast Augmentation Technique
The Periareolar Incision breast augmentation technique requires an incision around the areola. This breast augmentation technique is often used by breast augmentation surgeons to hide scarring. However this breast augmentation technique carries more risk that relate to milk production than other breast augmentation techniques.
In the Periareolar breast augmentation technique an incision is placed along the areolar border. The areola is the coloured circle of skin around the nipple. This incision provides an optimal approach when the breast augmentation surgeon requires making adjustments to the inframammary position or also performs a breast lift (mastopexy) procedures during the breast augmentation surgery.
The incision in the periareolar breast augmentation technique is generally placed around the inferior half, or the medial half of the areola's circumference. In some cases it can be placed all around the areolar border. With this breast augmentation technique the placing of silicone gel implants can be difficult due to the length of incision required for access.
The scar from periareolar breast augmentation technique is placed on the edge of the areola making it often less visible than the scars from the inframammary incisions in women with lighter areolar pigment.
The Periareolar breast augmentation technique causes the most problems with breast feeding, due to cutting milk ducts and nerves that lead to the nipple. is a higher incidence of capsular contracture with this breast augmentation technique.
Placement of the breast implant on the areolar border can results in considerable duct, glandular, and nerve damage, carrying significant risk to milk production in the future. Ducts and glands have a high risk of being damaged due to the incision penetrating deeply through the breast tissue. If the breast implant is placed above the muscle, it may further impede milk production functionality by placing pressure upon the glandular tissue.
The best way to make sure that you have a successful breast augmentation surgery is finding a qualified breast augmentation surgeon. Use a breast augmentation surgeon to find a qualified breast augmentation surgeon near you!
Transaxillary Breast Augmentation Technique
The Transaxillary breast augmentation technique requires placement of an incision in the extreme upper, outer region of the breast, near the juncture of the arm to the torso (arm pit) in order to minimize visible scarring. The incision is generally invisible even with the arm raised in breast augmentation performed with this technique.
In the Transaxillary breast augmentation technique an incision is placed in the armpit and the dissection tunnels medially. This breast augmentation technique allows breast implants to be placed with no visible scars on the breast, but is more likely to produce asymmetry of the inferior breast implant position. Subsequent revisions of transaxillary-placed breast implants usually require inframammary or periareolar incisions. Transaxillary breast augmentation procedures can be performed with or without an endoscope (video camera). With the Transaxillary Breast Augmentation Technique breast implants are usually placed below the muscle.
The impact to milk production is usually minimal with the transaxillary breast augmentation technique because the glandular tissue and nerves are largely undisturbed. As with the other breast augmentation techniques, placement of the breast implant above the muscle will result in greater impairment than placement of the breast implant underneath the muscle.
Transumbilical Breast Augmentation Technique
The Transumbilical breast augmentation technique is performed by inserting the breast implant through an incision in the navel (umbilicus) and moving it into place in the breast. In this breast augmentation technique, no incisions are made on the breast or into the breast tissue.
The Transumbilical (TUBA) breast augmentation technique is a less common breast augmentation technique where an incision is placed in the navel and dissection tunnels superiorly. This breast augmentation technique enables breast implants to be placed with no visible scars on the breast, but makes appropriate dissection and implant placement more difficult when compared to other breast augmentation techniques.
Transumbilical breast augmentation technique procedures are performed bluntly, with or without an endoscope (video camera) to assist dissection. This breast augmentation technique is not appropriate for placing silicone gel implants due to potential damage of the breast implant shell if attempting insertion through the small incision in the navel, and as those implants are pre-filled they cannot be passed through that navel incision.
The transumbilical breast augmentation technique also permits placement of the breast implant only above the muscle. Like the Transaxillary breast augmentation technique, the Transumbilical breast augmentation technique preserves glandular function and nerve response. This translates into a minimal impact to milk production. As with the other breast augmentation techniques, placement of the breast implant above the muscle will result in greater impairment than placement below the muscle.
In this type of breast augmentation technique sometimes the breast tissue can be damaged as the breast implant is brought into position. Insertion of the breast implant through the umbilicus makes it difficult to position it accurately, requiring the use of a camera scope although it is not necessary.
This breast augmentation technique is commonly called Transumbilical Breast Augmentation technique (TUBA).
Transabdominoplasty Breast Augmentation Technique
The Transabdominoplasty Breast Augmentation Technique is as a safe, straightforward procedure that is recommended for patients who have completed childbearing, have minimal breast ptosis, and desire a full abdominoplasty. The use of this breast augmentation technique helps avoid scars on or near the breast, maximizes the use of the abdominoplasty incision, and does not add significant surgery time.
The Transabdominoplasty (TABA) breast augmentation technique is a procedure similar to transumbilical breast augmentation technique, where the breast implants are tunneled up from the abdomen into bluntly dissected pockets while a patient is simultaneously undergoing an abdominoplasty procedure.
Areolar Vertical Approach Breast Augmentation Technique
The areolar vertical breast augmentation technique approach is a very similar to the periareolar breast augmentation technique as the incision is the same.
However, the areolar vertical breast augmentation technique leaves a more extended submuscular pocket for silicone gel breast implants than the periareolar breast augmentation technique, through the transglandular section to the top pectoral fascia. The cavity is then drained after being washed with saline solution before the breast implants are placed.
This breast augmentation technique developed in Argentina was proved to have excellent results even after numerous long term surgeries.