The Breast Augmentation Procedure
When you are brought into the operating room for your breast augmentation surgery, you’ll either be given general anesthesia (drugs that will put you to sleep) or local anesthesia (shots to numb the area). If you are given a local anesthetic, you will also be sedated to help you relax. Your plastic surgeon will discuss the types of anesthesia that will be used during your breast implant procedure during your breast augmentation preoperative consultation.
After the anesthesia has been administered, your plastic surgeon will make an incision through which your breast implants will be inserted. The location of your breast implant incision will depend on your body type, and the size and shape of your breast implants.
Types of Breast Augmentation Incisions
There are 3 types of incisions for breast augmentation:
- Inframmary incision (under your breast)
- Transaxillary incision (under your arm)
- Periareolar incision (around your areola)
Once the incision has been made, your breast implants will be inserted either under your chest muscle or right behind your breast tissue. Saline breast implants will either come pre-filled, or they’ll be filled after they’re in place.
After your breast implants have been inserted and filled, your cosmetic surgeon will use sutures, skin adhesive, or surgical tape to close the incision. Breast augmentation scars will fade over time.
View a step-by-step 3D animation of the breast augmentation procedure (breast augmentation video).