Where are the incisions made in breast implant surgery?
Depending on the patient’s unique presentation, incisions are made in one of three locations: periareolar, inframammary and axillary. Periareolar indicates the areola, or the boundary of the colored area around the nipple that borders regular breast skin. This incision tends to heal nearly invisibly, though in a few patients a thin line remains. Some patients experience temporary numbness in the nipple, but sensation generally returns. Incisions placed under the breast are called inframammary; they fall at the fold where the breast joins the chest wall. Although this incision is more noticeable than the periareolar, it can heal with minimal scarring and nipple sensation is usually not affected. Axillary means in the underarm (armpit). This incision offers the benefit of no breast scarring at all. Although there is an underarm scar, it generally fades to near-nothing with time. Nipple sensation is rarely affected by this approach.
