Breast Augmentation

Technically known as Augmentation Mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a women’s breast.  Good candidates include breasts that have lost fullness after pregnancy, asymmetrical or small breasts.  Augmentation Mammoplasty is done by placing an implant behind each breast.  There are many decisions to be made before the procedure.  The doctor will help you decide which type of implant, size, and incision will be best for your body.  The recovery process is as crucial as the surgery itself, for the best results it is important not to miss your appointments and follow the Dr’s instructions.

Incision Types

Inframmary: An incision is placed right below the breast, where the breast folds.  Inframmary incision is common for silicone gel implants because of the incisions are longer; this method can leave thicker more noticeable scars.

Periareolar: An incision is placed right along the areola border.  This incision is ideal for breast augmentation because the  incision is placed right on the border the scars are usually less visible.
Transaxillary: An incision is made in the armpit area; this approach allows no visible scars in the breast area.  Transaxillary can be performed with or without an endoscope.
Transumbilical (TUBA): An incision is made in the belly button about 2cm with or without an endoscope.  Transumbilical leaves virtually no scars but can only be performed with saline implants because prefilled implants can’t fit through the incision.

Transabominoplasty:  Implants are tunneled up from the abdomen when patient is undergoing abdominoplasty.

Implant Types

Saline: Considered the safest implant saline has been available for 30 years and composed of sterile salt water solution covered by a silicone rubber shell.  Although saline is known to ripple and wrinkle the danger of risk and infection is considerably low.

Silicone: Memory Gel Implants are FDA approved semi solid silicone implant.  This implant was designed to prevent leakage, by maintaining a cohesive gummy-gel like texture even if it were to rupture.  Cohesive gel implants look and move much like breast tissue. 

Placement

Subglandular: Implants are placed below breast tissue and above breast muscle.  The benefits of Subglandular placement are easier post-op and easier for the surgeon to create cleavage.  The disadvantages would be ripples are much easier seen and felt, and a fake augmented appearance.

Parial submuscular: Implant is placed beneath the pectoralis muscle. The muscle covers the top half of the implant the rest of the implant sits behind the breast tissue.   Benefits include decreased risk of visible ripping and a natural slope.  Risks include post-op discomfort, distorted appearance when flexing chest muscles.

Complete Submuscular: The top portion of the implant sit behind the  pectoralis muscle and in the lower portion a rib muscle and abdominal muscle is elevated to increase muscular coverage of the implant. Disadvantages  include increased discomfort and less rounded appearance laterally. Advantages include possibly less rippling.
Most plastic surgeons will place the implants partial submuscular.