A patient in my clinic today asked an insightful question that I would like to share with you.  She noted that she understood that there is evidence supporting that there is a decreased risk of capsular contracture after breast augmentation if the implant is positioned behind the muscle.  She wondered, “Is there  an incision that is associated with less risk for capsular contracture ?”

A prospective study by Henriksen et al.  answered this very question.  The authors looked at the causative factors surrounding surgery requiring complications and significant capsular contracture in 2277 women undergoing breast augmentation.  The authors found that the “inframammary” or breast fold incision was associated with the least risk for complications requiring surgical intervention. Patients who elected to have this incision also experienced less risk of capsular contracture.  In fact, patients opting for periareolar or any other incision were 5.8 times more likely to develop capsular contracture than those who had inframammary incisions.  This evidence has led me to counsel my patients to strongly consider the inframammary incision for their approach to a breast augmentation.   

Here are the pre and postoperative photographs of a breast augmentation done through an inframammary incision.  This patient is very thin and had very little breast tissue.   Even in this patient, the incision is very well concealed and is barely visible on front view.  

Pre and Postoperative views

The postoperative photograph is taken at 1 month following surgery to show what an immature incision may look like when it is the most visible.  The incision will continue to fade with time.  This small investment in an easily concealable incision can have a significant impact on the need for additional surgery.

Our websites www.beauty-surgeon.com and www.drmckane.com have additional information and before and after photographs of breast augmentation for review.  I invite you to schedule a consultation with me if you would like to learn more about breast augmentation or the incisions involved in this procedure.  Please feel free to contact our office at (713) 661-5255 if you have any questions.

-Brice W. McKane, M.D.

© 2009, Dr. McKane. All rights reserved.