2026-05-13
Breast Augmentation Incision Sites: Armpit or Inframammary Fold?
Learn about breast augmentation incision sites, their pros and cons, and recovery times. The inframammary fold is most common, while the armpit incision offers hidden scars.
Hello!
Beautiful and natural breasts. Beyond your expectations!
This is NEXT Plastic Surgery.
In this post,
we will explore the incision site checkpoints for implant breast augmentation surgery performed at NEXT Plastic Surgery,
and the individual rankings of the incision sites used!
Please refer to the information below for breast surgery incision sites! 📊
While there may be differences depending on each patient's individual condition,
summarizing the characteristics and proportions of each incision site reveals that
the inframammary fold incision accounts for over 60% of all surgeries,
making it a widely performed method.
It is suitable for patients with sagging breasts or a short nipple-to-inframammary fold distance,
and can reduce the likelihood of asymmetry or double folds.
If we were to look for a disadvantage,
a scar might be directly visible under the breast after surgery.
During breast augmentation surgery,
the axillary (armpit) incision is performed in less than 40% of cases.
It has the advantage that the scar is almost invisible when it overlaps with the armpit crease,
but it can be a burden for those in professions that require frequent exposure of the armpits.
Areolar and umbilical incisions are rarely performed now compared to the past.
The areola may have a relatively higher incidence of capsular contracture and inflammation due to bacteria, and in the case of umbilical incisions, there is a critical disadvantage that the latest cohesive gel implants cannot be used.
⏱️ Recovery period and pain for breast augmentation surgery with implants
(Based on returning to work)
For the axillary incision method,
the pain level after surgery is relatively high, and while there may be individual differences,
approximately 7 days (one week) of rest is required.
Inframammary fold / Areola: Pain is very slightly less than or
similar to the armpit, and it is generally possible to return to work after about 5 days of rest.
However, ‘recovery’ here refers to being able to work while managing the pain, not complete healing!
🏆 Dr. Jaesu Lee, the representative director of NEXT Plastic Surgery, ranked the axillary incision method as the final first place ( * in terms of the incision scar being hidden by the armpit creases ). Second place: inframammary fold incision. Third place: areolar incision. Fourth place: umbilical incision. These were the ranking results!
* Please note that the incision site or surgical method may vary depending on the patient's current breast condition, the hospital where the surgery is performed, and the surgeon!
* This article was written to help NEXT Plastic Surgery patients understand medical information and complies with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act.
After breast augmentation procedures or surgery, there may be differences in swelling, recovery period, bleeding, etc., depending on the individual's condition,
and precautions against side effects are necessary.
Therefore, we recommend planning the surgery after careful consideration through sufficient consultation with a specialist.