Breast Enlargement Techniques

Breast enlargement is most commonly an outpatient procedure. Breast enlargement is performed either under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. It takes place in an office-based surgical suite, a free-standing ambulatory or a hospital surgical facility.

An overnight hospital stay is occasionally recommended after breast enlargement surgery especially if the patient has had other procedures performed.

During a breast enlargement the breast implants be placed via various types of incisions. The main four breast enlargement techniques are:

• Inframammary breast enlargement technique: under the breast
• the Transaxillary breast enlargement technique: under the arm
• the Transumbilical breast enlargement technique: belly button
• Periareolar breast enlargement technique: around the areola

Additionally there are other breast enlargement techniques that are variations of the ones mentioned above.

Inframammary Breast Enlargement Technique

The most common breast enlargement technique is the Inframammary technique, which inserts the implant in the fold where the breast meets the chest wall. This breast enlargement technique leaves no visible scars.

In the Inframammary (IMF) breast enlargement technique an incision is placed below the breast in the infra-mammary fold. This incision is the most popular approach to breast enlargement. Although the scars are not on a visible location, this breast enlargement method can leave slightly more visible or thicker scars than other breast enlargement techniques.

The Inframammary breast enlargement technique gives the breast enlargement surgeon maximum access for precise dissection and placement of an implant. This breast enlargement technique is often preferred for silicone gel implants due to the longer incisions required with this type of breast implant.

With the Inframammary breast enlargement technique there is less impact to milk production with this breast enlargement technique because neither the glandular tissue nor innervation is affected during breast enlargement surgery. However, if the breast implant is placed on top of the pectoral muscle, it can exert pressure on the ducts and glands, which may reduce milk production during breastfeeding.

Periareolar Breast Enlargement Technique

The Periareolar Incision breast enlargement technique requires an incision around the areola. This breast enlargement technique is often used by breast enlargement surgeons to hide scarring. However this breast enlargement technique carries more risk that relate to milk production than other breast enlargement techniques.

In the Periareolar breast enlargement technique an incision is placed along the areolar border. The areola is the coloured circle of skin around the nipple. This incision provides an optimal approach when the breast enlargement surgeon requires making adjustments to the inframammary position or also performs a breast lift (mastopexy) procedures during the breast enlargement surgery.

The incision in the periareolar breast enlargement technique is generally placed around the inferior half, or the medial half of the areola's circumference. In some cases it can be placed all around the areolar border. With this breast enlargement technique the placing of silicone gel implants can be difficult due to the length of incision required for access.

The scar from periareolar breast enlargement technique is placed on the edge of the areola making it often less visible than the scars from the inframammary incisions in women with lighter areolar pigment.

The Periareolar breast enlargement technique causes the most problems with breast feeding, due to cutting milk ducts and nerves that lead to the nipple. is a higher incidence of capsular contracture with this breast enlargement technique.

Placement of the breast implant on the areolar border can results in considerable duct, glandular, and nerve damage, carrying significant risk to milk production in the future. Ducts and glands have a high risk of being damaged due to the incision penetrating deeply through the breast tissue. If the breast implant is placed above the muscle, it may further impede milk production functionality by placing pressure upon the glandular tissue.

The best way to make sure that you have a successful breast enlargement surgery is finding a qualified breast enlargement surgeon. Use a breast enlargement surgeon to find a qualified breast enlargement surgeon near you!

Transaxillary Breast Enlargement Technique

The Transaxillary breast enlargement technique requires placement of an incision in the extreme upper, outer region of the breast, near the juncture of the arm to the torso (arm pit) in order to minimize visible scarring. The incision is generally invisible even with the arm raised in breast enlargement performed with this technique.

In the Transaxillary breast enlargement technique an incision is placed in the armpit and the dissection tunnels medially. This breast enlargement technique allows breast implants to be placed with no visible scars on the breast, but is more likely to produce asymmetry of the inferior breast implant position. Subsequent revisions of transaxillary-placed breast implants usually require inframammary or periareolar incisions. Transaxillary breast enlargement procedures can be performed with or without an endoscope (video camera). With the Transaxillary Breast Enlargement Technique breast implants are usually placed below the muscle.

The impact to milk production is usually minimal with the transaxillary breast enlargement technique because the glandular tissue and nerves are largely undisturbed. As with the other breast enlargement techniques, placement of the breast implant above the muscle will result in greater impairment than placement of the breast implant underneath the muscle.

Transumbilical Breast Enlargement Technique

The Transumbilical breast enlargement technique is performed by inserting the breast implant through an incision in the navel (umbilicus) and moving it into place in the breast. In this breast enlargement technique, no incisions are made on the breast or into the breast tissue.

The Transumbilical (TUBA) breast enlargement technique is a less common breast enlargement technique where an incision is placed in the navel and dissection tunnels superiorly. This breast enlargement technique enables breast implants to be placed with no visible scars on the breast, but makes appropriate dissection and implant placement more difficult when compared to other breast enlargement techniques.

Transumbilical breast enlargement technique procedures are performed bluntly, with or without an endoscope (video camera) to assist dissection. This breast enlargement technique is not appropriate for placing silicone gel implants due to potential damage of the breast implant shell if attempting insertion through the small incision in the navel, and as those implants are pre-filled they cannot be passed through that navel incision.

The transumbilical breast enlargement technique also permits placement of the breast implant only above the muscle. Like the Transaxillary breast enlargement technique, the Transumbilical breast enlargement technique preserves glandular function and nerve response. This translates into a minimal impact to milk production. As with the other breast enlargement techniques, placement of the breast implant above the muscle will result in greater impairment than placement below the muscle.

In this type of breast enlargement technique sometimes the breast tissue can be damaged as the breast implant is brought into position. Insertion of the breast implant through the umbilicus makes it difficult to position it accurately, requiring the use of a camera scope although it is not necessary.

This breast enlargement technique is commonly called Transumbilical Breast Enlargement technique (TUBA).

Transabdominoplasty Breast Enlargement Technique

The Transabdominoplasty Breast Enlargement Technique is as a safe, straightforward procedure that is recommended for patients who have completed childbearing, have minimal breast ptosis, and desire a full abdominoplasty. The use of this breast enlargement technique helps avoid scars on or near the breast, maximizes the use of the abdominoplasty incision, and does not add significant surgery time.

The Transabdominoplasty (TABA) breast enlargement technique is a procedure similar to transumbilical breast enlargement technique, where the breast implants are tunneled up from the abdomen into bluntly dissected pockets while a patient is simultaneously undergoing an abdominoplasty procedure.

Areolar Vertical Approach Breast Enlargement Technique

The areolar vertical breast enlargement technique approach is a very similar to the periareolar breast enlargement technique as the incision is the same.

However, the areolar vertical breast enlargement technique leaves a more extended submuscular pocket for silicone gel breast implants than the periareolar breast enlargement technique, through the transglandular section to the top pectoral fascia. The cavity is then drained after being washed with saline solution before the breast implants are placed.

This breast enlargement technique developed in Argentina was proved to have excellent results even after numerous long term surgeries.

Breast Enlargement is as a safe, straightforward procedure. If you are considering breast enlargement, the best way to know what breast enlargement technique would work best for you is to schedule a consultation with a breast enlargement specialists. Use our surgeon locator to find a breast enlargement surgeon near you!