Inframammary Fold Incisional Approach

With more than one choice in breast implants incision sites, you will need to discuss the placement of breast implant incisions with your physician. A popular type of breast augmentation incision is the inframammary incision.

Inframammary (Crease) Breast Implant Incisions

Although there are a few breast implant incision sites available during breast enlargement surgery, the inframammary, or crease, incision is probably the most common breast augmentation incision used today. Patients considering breast enlargement should discuss breast implant incisions, including the inframammary option, with qualified breast surgeons.

Advantages of Inframammary Incision

Similar to areola breast implant incisions, the inframammary incision site allows the implant to be placed over, partially under, or completely under the chest wall muscle. The inframammary breast augmentation incision also allows the plastic surgeon to work within close proximity of the breast for more control over the placement of the breast implants.

With crease breast implant incisions, the resulting scars should be visible only when you are in a horizontal position. The surgeon usually tries to situate the breast augmentation incision so that it will fall just above the inframammary fold to prevent the scar from being seen. The surgeon must properly evaluate where the incision will be in relation to your new breast size. If the incision is made too high or too low, the scars could be very noticeable.

One distinct advantage of this type of breast augmentation incision is that it allows a surgeon to perform virtually all revisions, such as those for capsular contracture, symmastia, and bottoming out, without having to make an incision elsewhere on the breast. Certain other breast implants incision sites do not allow surgeons to use the original incision site for revision surgery; an additional incision has to be made, which produces further scarring.

Disadvantages of Inframammary Incision

A disadvantage of an inframammary breast augmentation incision is that is a degree of uncertainty involved in placing the incision. While this typically isn’t a problem for an experienced surgeon, it can be difficult to do when there is little breast tissue or little or no natural crease.

Also, if you choose to have revision breast augmentation surgery in the future, the results may be less than ideal. If you decide you want much larger breast implants, your creases will have to be lowered. Going with a larger breast implant size may mean that the breast augmentation incision scars from your previous surgery will ride higher on your breasts. The opposite effect will occur if you select smaller breast implants: your breast creases will have to be raised, meaning the incision scars will be lower than where they were intended to be. If, for any reason, you decide to have your breast implants permanently removed, the scars will no longer sit undetected in the inframammary folds.

Alternative Breast Implant Incision Sites

Although popular, crease incisions are not the only option during breast implants surgery. Alternative breast implants incision sites include navel breast augmentation incisions, underarm breast implant incisions, and the breast augmentation incisions around the areola. Each of these alternative breast implants incision sites has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, which should be discussed in more detail with a qualified breast augmentation surgeon.

Locate a Plastic Surgeon in Your Area

Whether you are interested in the inframammary breast augmentation incision procedure or one of the alternative breast implants incision sites, you need to discuss your possible breast implants procedure with a skilled breast surgeon. If you are not already working with a doctor, you can find a qualified cosmetic surgeon in your area with our physician search tool. During your consultation, your breast augmentation surgeon should discuss the various breast implants incisions, types of breast implants, and other plastic surgery information with you.