Saturday, November 14, 2009

Breast Implant Scars - How Incision Type and Placement Affects Scarring

Many women considering breast augmentation surgery have concerns about different aspects of the procedure. One of the most common questions is how large the scars will be and how visible they will be. Plastic surgeons realize that this is a major concern for most patients and will do all they can to minimize the size and appearance of the necessary scars. There are even several different types of breast implant methods that produce varying degrees of scar length and positioning.

There are basically four distinct techniques for inserting and placing implants during an augmentation procedure. The first is the TUBA method which stands for transumbilical breast augmentation. It is an endoscopic procedure, meaning the placement can be done with the use of tiny instruments while the surgeon can see what needs to be done under the skin through a microscopic camera inside that projects images to a video monitor.

The incisions for this implant surgery are inside the belly button, which essentially means there will be no visible scarring. The TUBA method is well designed for leaving no trace of the incisions.

A second method is the transaxillary breast augmentation that places the breast implants through incisions made in the natural folds of the underarms. While the resulting scars are detectable upon looking for them, usually they are no more than small, fine lines that are never seen or noticed in normal movement. This is typically considered the second best procedure for creating almost imperceptible scars.

The peri-areolar breast augmentation method makes an incision around the bottom half of the areola. Typically, since this area is darker than the surrounding skin the scars are well camouflaged at the base of the areola, but may show as a fine line that careful observers may discover.

This is technique is best recommended for women with large areolas that can hide the scars easily enough as women with small areolas will have ones that extend below the body's naturally dark circles making them more noticeable.

Finally, the incisions in inframammary breast augmentation are made underneath the breasts in the natural crease where the bottom of the breast meets the chest wall. These scars are generally longer than all the other methods and will be noticeable when the arms are raised high above the head, but other wise are well hidden by the tissue. Successfully hidden scars with this method are much more common with larger breasted women than smaller breasted ones.

It is important for women to consider all the relevant aspects of each augmentation surgery technique, not just where and how big the scars will be, as scarring will vary from individual to individual even with the same methods. A qualified plastic surgeon can help interested candidates determine which procedure offers the best overall advantages for their specific needs and desires.

These might include things like whether they want silicone or saline implants, how big the implants will be, and whether they will be placed over or under the pectoral muscles. Figuring out the right combination of these factors will produce the most satisfying and longest lasting results possible.

Enhance your look and get a fuller figure with breast implants. The Woodlands cosmetic surgeon offers an array of enhancement options for women unhappy with their breast size. Contact the surgeon at http://www.drkimplasticsurgery.com for beautiful, proportioned, natural-looking results.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A_Aaronson