The Four Approaches
Your implant type shapes what’s available. A saline implant, which is filled once it’s in place, can be introduced through any of four incision locations. A silicone implant arrives pre-filled and needs a slightly larger opening, so three of the four apply. The inframammary incision sits along the underside of the breast, near the natural crease, which is why it’s also called the breast fold or breast crease incision. The periareolar incision is made around the lower edge of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. The transaxillary incision moves away from the breast entirely, placed in the armpit. And the transumbilical approach, or TUBA, is made at the navel, with the implant guided up into position; because it can’t accommodate a pre-filled device, it isn’t used with silicone implants.
Will an Incision Affect Sensation?
A change in feeling at the nipple or elsewhere on the breast is a fair thing to ask about. What’s worth knowing: there is minimal documentation linking any specific incision to a higher or lower risk of it. Most surgeons believe any change in sensation tracks more with the size of the implant and the surgical technique than with where the incision is placed, because those factors determine how much room the tissue has to make, and how nerve endings within the breast are affected.
There’s No Single “Best” Incision
No two women are the same, so no one approach wins for everyone. Most patients would agree that a well-healed incision in any location is better than a poorly performed one elsewhere. How an incision ultimately looks depends on how cleanly it heals, where it sits, and even the clothes you tend to wear. The right choice is the one made with Dr. Roudner, who is board-certified in plastic surgery and focuses his practice on breast augmentation in Miami.
A Clean-Healed Scar
In any location, an incision that heals well outperforms a poorly placed one elsewhere.
Your Own Anatomy
No two women are alike; the right approach is the one that suits your body.
Implant & Technique
Sensation changes track more with implant size and technique than with incision type.
How It Wears
Where a scar sits, and the clothes you wear, shape how noticeable it ever is.
Frequently asked questions
How many incision options do I have?
It depends on your implant. A saline implant can be placed through four locations, inframammary, periareolar, transaxillary, or the transumbilical (TUBA) approach, while a pre-filled silicone implant uses three of them. TUBA isn’t used with silicone.
Where is the inframammary incision?
Along the underside of the breast, close to the natural crease. For that reason it’s also known as the breast fold or breast crease incision.
Which incision has the least effect on nipple sensation?
There’s minimal documentation tying any specific incision to a higher or lower risk of changed sensation. Most surgeons believe any change relates more to the implant’s size and the surgical technique than to where the incision is made.
Which incision should I choose?
That’s a decision to make with Dr. Roudner. Because every body is different, he reviews your options in his Miami office and helps you land on the approach that best fits your anatomy and goals.
