Breast Augmentation’s Hidden Scars
Breast Implants, Risks, breast augmentation Comments Off
While breast enlargement is the most favored cosmetic plastic surgery (347,500 were performed during 2007) , one of the first questions any patient asks her plastic surgeon is: “Will I have a scar?”
All invasive plastic surgeries leave a scar because the skin must be opened somewhere.
So sure, you’ll have a scar when that incision heals. But it will lighten over time to a point only somebody with a magnifying glass and permission to totally invade your privacy could see it.
Here’s a summary of breast enlargement scars:
TUBA: Short for transumbilical breast augmentation, the plastic surgeon starts by making an incision in one of the creases in your belly button.
He or she then uses long tools to reach up to the breast from the navel. Nobody will ever see the scar unless you tell them where to look. Chances are excellent you won’t be able to find the scar yourself in six months!
Downside: The patient has pain in two areas because the surgeon works about two feet away from the breasts, the target area. And silicone implants can’t be used.
Transaxillary: Again, the surgeon uses a crease in the arm pit to enter the chest area. That’s becomes another scar nobody is ever going to spot. And, the surgeon works closer to the treatment area.
Downside: Some patients don’t heal well from his approach. (See our previous post about transaxillary incisions.) Also, surgeons have very particular rules about shaving and deodorants both before and after a transaxillary incision. Silicone implants require a longer scar.
Inframammary Fold: This is where the very bottom of the breast meets the chest wall. It’s a slightly longer scar but viewable by only those to whom you are closest.
Downside: Not much.
Aerola: The surgeon makes a curved incision on the south side of the areola where the dark part of the areola meets your body’s main skin color. Most surgeons prefer this approach because they feel it gives them the best view and access to your chest muscles. The breast implant is often placed under those muscles.
Downside: the scar heals well in time and is still hidden from public view – providing you don’t go around topless. Nonetheless, surveys show most women are delighted with this approach. The only downside is that the areola must be large enough to fit the implant through the incisions. Some patients requesting silicone implants are not able to choose this option.
admin @ March 24, 2009