According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, breast augmentation was the most popular form of cosmetic surgery in 2009, with 311,957 surgeries performed. Surgeons use different techniques to insert breast implants, including under the armpits or through incisions in the nipples, under the breasts or through the belly button. There are different types of breast augmentation options for each insertion place, including those placed through the underarm.
Subglandular Implants
Breast implants that are placed through incisions in the arm pits, or transaxillary incisions, are inserted through a channel from under the arms to the breasts. Surgeons perform transaxillary procedures with saline implants, which are sacs filled with a saltwater solution. Saline implants are flexible and can be inflated and adjusted during surgery. Transaxillary implants can be placed above the chest muscle, called subglandular implants. This is a popular option for athletic women or competitive weight lifters, as the implants will not shift when the chest muscles are flexed. Transaxillary implants placed over the muscle usually require less time to heal than those placed below the muscle.
Submuscular Implants
For underarm breast augmentation procedures, implants may be submuscluar, or placed under the chest muscle. Surgeons often place implants under the muscle for women who have small breasts and less tissue to work with. The placement of the implants under the pectoral muscle puts more tissue between the implant and the skin, which makes visible ripples in the breast much rarer than in subglandular implants, giving the breasts a more natural look. Submuscular implants also offer the advantage of allowing for more accurate mammograms and cancer detection than implants placed above the muscle.
Shapes and Textures
Transaxillary breast augmentation procedures are performed with a variety of implant sizes and textures. Discuss the options with your surgeon to determine what size is best for your individual needs. Implants can be teardrop-shaped or round. Round implants are circular, flattened spheres that give breasts fullness on the top and bottom. Round implants are the most commonly used, according to Doc Shop, and they are less expensive than teardrop-shaped implants. Some women opt for teardrop implants because they have a more natural contour, with the fullest part of the breast at the bottom. Teardrop implants always have a textured surface to hold them in place so they won’t rotate and protrude unnaturally. Round implants come in smooth or textured varieties; the smooth are the most common, as they’re the softest and least expensive.
