Breast augmentation is a very popular procedure for women and among the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures. Plastic surgeons in the United States can perform this procedure by placing a saline or silicone gel filled implant under the crease in the breast, around the nipple, through the armpit, or through the belly button. The implant can be placed under the breast tissue or beneath the chest wall muscle. After surgery, breasts will appear “fuller” with an increase in volume, enhanced projection, and more shapely contour. Incision scars eventually fade over time but are permanent and can thicken in a small percentage of people. Which incision should I use for breast augmentation? The most common incision used for breast augmentation is the inframammary (under the breast) incision. Approximately 80% of women across the country have breast augmentation performed using this incision. It is usually well-hidden and has a low complication rate. The periareolar incision (scar around the colored part of the nipple) is another option. This incision typically heals well, but is located on the front of the breast. Studies are showing that the periareolar incision results in a higher risk of complications, such as capsular contracture. Therefore, Dr. Youn does not recommend this approach as the first option. The transaxillary (armpit) incision is also used, but primarily with saline implants and comes with a higher risk of capsular contracture as well. The belly button technique (trans-umbilical breast augmentation, or TUBA) is used by a handful of plastic surgeons nationwide, but conveys a higher risk of complications as well. Dr. Youn is not an advocate of the transumbilical or the transaxillary techniques and does not offer them. What is the difference between a silicone gel and saline breast implant? There are benefits and drawbacks with each of these implant types. Saline implants are simple, less expensive, and there is never a question of whether they are broken or not. These implants are filled with sterile salt water, the same fluid that is given to a person who is in the ER being treated for dehydration. If the implant outer shell develops a break or tear, the implant will quickly deflate, often within a couple hours. The saline that leaks out of the implant is safely absorbed by the body. Because it’s typically very obvious when a saline implant breaks, there is no need for expensive tests to follow these implants. The drawback of a saline implant is the fact that it is not as natural looking or feeling as a silicone implant. Some patients complain of wrinkles and ripples, mainly on the bottom or the sides of the implants. A silicone implant looks and feels more natural than a saline implant but is more expensive and more controversial than saline. In general, the question is How Can We Tell If A Silicone Implant Is Broken? Because the silicone inside the new silicone implants is no longer a liquid, but a cohesive gel, it may be very difficult to tell whether an implant may have a break or tear in the outside shell. The FDA therefore recommends that all patients who undergo cosmetic breast augmentation with silicone implants undergo an MRI or ultrasound of the breasts 5 years after the original surgery and every other year thereafter. This is not a requirement, however. Make sure to discuss this with your board-certified plastic surgeon prior to undergoing a silicone gel breast augmentation. What is the gummy bear breast implant, and is it an option for me? The FDA has approved the shaped, form-stable silicone breast implants, otherwise known as the “gummy bear” breast implant. There are many differences between the gummy bear implant and the other silicone gel implants being used. First, the silicone gel inside the gummy bear implants is thick, firm, and resists deformation. For this reason, the implants are called “form-stable.” There is virtually no risk of silicone leakage with this implant. Second, the gummy bear implants are made in a teardrop shape with a textured (sandpaper-like) surface. Unlike the smooth, round silicone implants, these implants are not made to move around inside the breast pocket, but are designed to fit snug inside the breast. Third, the form-stable implant must be inserted through the scar under the breast, and utilizes a slightly longer scar than the other types of breast implants. At this time, Dr. Youn no longer uses these implants. The textured shell of these implants comes with a risk of a very rare type of cancer called BIA-ALCL. Plastic surgeons are still learning more about this extremely uncommon condition,