Types of Surgical Procedures for Breast Implants

Inframammary Fold (Crease)

The crease incision is probably the most common incision currently used for breast augmentation. Like the nipple incision, this incision site allows the implant to be placed over, partially under, or completely under the muscle, or removed from these various placements. It also allows the plastic surgeon to work within close proximity of the breast, meaning more control over placement of the implant. When using this incision, the implants do not pass through the breast ducts, which are known to harbor bacteria.

The incision is made in the inframammary fold, commonly known as the crease. If the incision is properly placed, the scar should not be visible, with the exception of being in a horizontal position. The surgeon usually tries to situate the incision so that it will fall just above the inframammary fold. This is done in order to prevent the scar being seen, for example, if your bathing suit top rides up. The surgeon must properly guesstimate where the incision will be, in relation to the new crease, otherwise, the scars could ride high on the breast, and be very visible, or, they could be placed too low, which would also make them visible.

One very good advantage to this incision is that virtually all revisions, such as for capsular contracture, symmastia, bottoming out, etc., can all be performed via this incision. If you have the transax incision, and need a revision due to a problem, chances are, you will need to use a different incision, which means more scars. (Click here for scar therapy information.) If you start with the crease incision and have a problem, you will still end up with the two incisions you started with, instead of one or two new scars.

There are disadvantages with this incision, as with any other incision. One disadvantage is that the surgeon (in cases in which there is little breast tissue or little to no natural crease) has to guess as to where to place the incision. However, most surgeons are very good with this particular incision, and having a misplaced crease incision is rarely a problem. Another disadvantage is going up or down (substantially) in size. If you decide you want much larger implants, your crease will have to be lowered. This is done so that the implant can be centered behind the nipple. Going a LOT bigger may mean that your incision scars from your previous surgery(s) will ride higher on the breast. The same thing applies with going smaller. If you go smaller, the crease will have to be raised, which means the incision scars will be lower than they were initially. If you decide to have your breast implants permanently removed, the crease incision will be visible, no matter what.