One Size Does Not Fit All!
October is a month of many things, aside from the obvious Halloween and start of fall; it is pork awareness month, national arts & humanities month and, of course, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
With all this extra attention on breasts this month, perhaps you’ve wondered how you could make yours larger, perkier, or more balanced? Breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures performed on women from all walks of life and all parts of the country. While breast augmentation is extremely popular, there is still no one size fits all answer for size and type of implants and how the procedure is performed. You may not even be aware that there is more than one breast augmentation surgical technique! Working closely with an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon like Dr. Shapiro will ensure that you understand what options are available and best for you!
Techniques
The most commonly performed breast augmentation technique used is the inframammary technique. The breast implant is inserted through a small incision in the fold where the breast meets the chest wall. Because of the way the breast falls, there will be no visible scars after the procdure. Although common with all types of implants, it is the preferred surgical technique for silicone-gel implants.
The periareolar Incision technique is also a very commonly used technique. The periareolar approach consists of the surgeon making a crescent shaped incision which follows the natural areola pigmentation line on the bottom half of the nipple. While there will be some scarring, the natural coloring and texture of the areola usually hide the scarring quite well. Because of the small 5 cm incision this technique requires, it may not be optimal for silicone implants, but perfect if you are also having a breast lift procedure.
The transaxillary technique involves placement of an incision in the extreme upper, outer region of the breast, near the armpit. The implants are inserted through a channel below the muscle, sometimes aided by an endoscope (camera). The transaxillary technique is used with saline implants, since they can be inserted through the channel empty and then through some tubing, the implant is filled with a saline solution until the desired pre-determined size. This technique leaves no scars on the breast, and the armpit incision is generally invisible even with the arm raised.
The Transumbilical incision technique, commonly called Transumbilical Breast Augmentation (TUBA), is performed by inserting the implant through an incision in the navel. This technique has been dubbed “scarless breast implants” by many. In this technique, no incisions are made on the breast or into the breast tissue, resulting in no scarring. Like the transaxillary technique, insertion of empty saline implants is aided by the use of an endoscope to ensure the implant is positioned perfectly. After the breast implants are placed, they are filled to your desired size with saline.
So is October your month to define your breasts? Interested and want to learn more? Call now to schedule your consultation with Dr. Shapiro. Let October be the start to the “you” that you’ve always wanted.
