The periareolar approach to breast augmentation

Incision placement in patients undergoing augmentation mammaplasty is an important element of the overall strategic plan of the procedure. Whatever incision location is chosen, access to the breast must be sufficient to afford accurate dissection of the pocket, to allow easy insertion of the implant, and to provide for precise hemostasis. At the same time, the incision should be placed where the resulting scar will be inconspicuous and well hidden. For many surgeons, the periareolar approach satisfies all of these requirements. This article describes the various advantages associated with the periareolar incision for breast augmentation and provides the technical details to enable best use of the technique.