If you’ve chosen to have breast augmentation surgery, you want to end up with lovely breasts. Your image of this probably doesn’t include much in the way of visible scars.

But breast augmentation is surgery, and surgery includes incisions. Where will those incisions go, and how apparent will their scars be?

INCISION LOCATION

Fortunately, cosmetic surgeons care as much about incision location as you do. Three sites are typically used for breast augmentation incisions. They are chosen because they are adequate to perform the surgery and offer the best cosmetic results.

The first is peri-areolar. The areola is the darkened area of skin surrounding the nipple. By placing the incision around the edge of the areola, it is hidden in the color change between the areola and the rest of the breast.

This works well for women with a larger areola, such as develops after pregnancy and breastfeeding. This approach can disrupt the milk ducts so it may be preferable after child-bearing is complete.

The second position is in the crease at the bottom of the breast in the fold between the breast and the chest wall. This position is called the inframammary fold, and it can conceal this incision nicely. However in a woman with particularly perky breasts it might not be as hidden as in a woman with some fullness in the lower part of the breast.

The third option, is under the arm, called transaxillary. Again, this is concealed by the position of the arm in relation to the breast. This incision is a little trickier to navigate and requires an endocscopic camera. It is best for women without significant differences in size between her breasts because access is more limited than the other locations..

INCISION SIZE

Not only is the incision location important, it must be large enough to provide the surgeon adequate room to create an implant pocket. If the incision is very small, the surgeon may sacrifice visibility to make a clean pocket and stop any bleeding before inserting the implant. The promise of a “mini-incision” can be tempting, but it must be weighed against the risk of less than ideal outcomes and a prolonged period of recovery. It’s best to rely on your surgeon’s skill to conceal an adequate incision than risk the complications that can result from a too-small incision.

AFTER SURGERY

Your surgeon will do everything possible to minimize the appearance of your scars. But there is much you can do to promote speedy healing and diminish the appearance of your scar: Quit smoking, consume a healthy diet, and follow your post-op instructions to the letter.


There are many choices in a breast augmentation surgery. Some of those choices affect more than the appearance of the final result. They can impact healing and the likelihood of complications. Incisions are one of those decisions. It’s best to rely on a surgeon with extensive experience selecting the right incision for each patient.

If you would like to discuss breast augmentation with Dr. Slack, he can talk you through the many variables that will lead to the very best outcome for you. Contact us to make an appointment for your consultation.