Choosing a Surgeon | Choosing an Implant | Choosing the Surgical Incision Site | Choosing the Type of Implant Placement | General Description of Breast Implant Surgery | After the Surgery | Choices in Reconstructive Procedures | Breast Reconstruction with Breast Implants | Immediate reconstruction is one-stage or two-stage reconstruction | Breast Reconstruction with Tissue Flaps | Questions to Ask Your Surgeon about Breast Augmentation | Questions to Ask Your Surgeon about Breast Reconstruction
Breast Implant Surgery
Choosing the Surgical Incision Site
You should discuss the pros and cons for each incision site you are considering with your surgeon. Your surgeon may recommend an incision site for you depending on whether you will be having augmentation or reconstruction.
Augmentation Incision Sites - The three common incision sites are under the arm (transaxillary), around the nipple (periareolar), or within the breast fold (inframammary). The sketch below shows each of these incisions sites.65
- Transaxillary - This incision is less concealed than periareolar but associated with less difficulty than the periareolar incision site when breast feeding.
- Periareolar - This incision is most concealed but is associated with a higher likelihood of inability to successfully breast feed, as compared to the other incision sites.
- Inframammary - This incision is less concealed than periareolar but associated with less difficulty with breast feeding than the periareolar incision site.
The umbilical/endoscopic incision site is not recommended by companies.
Reconstruction Incision Sites - Most implants in breast reconstruction use the mastectomy scar either immediately during the mastectomy procedure or after tissue expansion.
Choosing a Surgeon | Choosing an Implant | Choosing the Surgical Incision Site | Choosing the Type of Implant Placement | General Description of Breast Implant Surgery | After the Surgery | Choices in Reconstructive Procedures | Breast Reconstruction with Breast Implants | Immediate reconstruction is one-stage or two-stage reconstruction | Breast Reconstruction with Tissue Flaps | Questions to Ask Your Surgeon about Breast Augmentation | Questions to Ask Your Surgeon about Breast Reconstruction
FDA Breast Implant Consumer Handbook - 2004
U. S. Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/breastimplants/handbook2004/glossary.html
