Background: Breast augmentation is a common body contouring procedure. Of the many pictures of breast augmentation results on the internet, the vast majority are of Caucasian type. The main difference with Hispanic or Latin women is their increased propensity to develop dark pigmentation at incision/scar sites. While they almost never develop hypertrophic or keloid scars, the color of the scar may still make it noticeable.
Case Study: This 21 year-old hispanic female never had any breast tissue develop. Her chest was completely flat with a small diameter areola.
Under general anesthesia she underwent the placement of 300cc smooth high profile silicone breast implants through a high axillary incision. (3 cms length) Her implants were placed using a funnel insertion technique.
Her result at six weeks after surgery showed a scarless breast augmentation with tight skin over the implants. With six to none months more time her very round breast augmentation result will soften and they will become more natural and softer.
Young Hispanic breast augmentation patients may want to avoid even the smallest scar at the inframammary fold area. The transaxillary incision offers a scarless approach that is appealing to women of increased pigments. Being placed in the hair bearing skin of the axilla, it heals very well and rarely develops any significant hyperpigmentation.
Highlights:
1) Breast augmentation can make a dramatic change in one’s self image for young women who have no breast tissue. (flat chest)
2) The young juvenile appearing female chest with tight skin will create more of a rounder appearing breast implant result.
3) Hispanic breast augmentation women may prefer a ‘scarless’ method using high axillary skin incisions.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana