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It isn’t news that one of the biggest aesthetic concerns women have about their bodies is breast size. While some women are genetically gifted with their ideal sized breasts, others would like to add volume and shape. This makes breast augmentation one of the most popular cosmetic procedures year after year, not just in the United States, but in the world.

Breast augmentation is a cosmetic procedure which helps a woman attain or regain an optimal breast presence. Women who wish to improve their breast appearance are turning to plastic surgeons for help because of advancements in technology and technique. Part of the improvements in breast augmentation surgery is incision techniques and implant placement.

Breast Implant Incisions

Breast augmentation surgery begins with the incision. There are three types of incisions Dr. Livingston employs to place breast implants. They include:

Inframammary Incision

The inframammary incision is placed in the proximity of the crease where the breast and chest come together. This crease is called the inframammary fold. With the use of this incision location, larger implants are easier to place and the breast fold helps hide any incision scars.

Periareolar Incision

Dr. Livingston performs the periareolar incision around the outline of the areola (the pigmented area around the nipple). This incision allows him to create a precise pocket modification necessary for the desired breast shape and to control bleeding. This is popular with women choosing saline implants.

Transaxillary Incision

He uses a transaxillary incision (armpit) to ensure scar concealment and easy placement. This incision placement is in the natural folds of the skin in the armpit

Breast Implant Placement

The female breast is soft tissue which extends over and beyond her pectoral muscles of her upper chest. The breast contains a complex group of tissues, including fibrous, fatty, and glandular tissues.

The breasts are positioned over the pectoral muscles of the chest wall and attached to the chest wall by a group of fibrous strands known as Cooper’s ligaments.

The breasts’ fatty tissue is what gives them a soft consistency. The tissue covers the breast which surrounds the fibrous tissues and the glands and fibrous tissues.

During your breast augmentation surgery, the implants’ placement can be either under or over the muscle.  The factors which play a role to determine optimal placement for your implants are your body type, implant size, implant type, and health history.

Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Chris Livingston, will help you determine the best implant placement so that you can get the results you want and will love for years to come.

Sub Glandular Placement

Subglandular placement positions the breast implant behind the breast but over the fibrous tissue and the pectoral muscles.

Submuscular Placement

In a partial submuscular implant placement, the implant is placed partially behind the pectoral muscles but completely behind the breast tissue.

During surgery, Dr. Livingston cuts the lowest part of the muscle, so the upper part of the implant sits deeply beneath the muscle, but the lower part sits beneath the breast.

With a full submuscular implant placement, Dr. Livingston places the implant behind the major breast muscle groups in the chest area.

If you are interested in learning more about breast augmentation surgery, contact board-certified, Dr. Christopher Livingston today.