Is periareolar incision a suitable option for breast surgery? A mathematical comparison between periareolar and inframammary fold approaches

Abstract

Several incisions have been proposed for the insertion of breast implants, but it is still debated which is the most conservative for the integrity of the prosthesis. There are no reports comparing periareolar and inframammary incisions on a mathematical basis. This study analyzed the efficacy of the two incisions through a detailed comparison based on increasing incision lengths to enable a more directed clinical choice. Materials and methods: An 8-cm scale was plotted, representing either the linear section of an inframammary incision or the diameter of an ideal circumference; the corresponding hemi-circumference was calculated, and the advantage in length of the curvilinear section was determined. The data analysis confirmed a statistically significant increase of 36% in length when a curvilinear section was compared to an inframammary fold incision of the same length as the diameter of the related curvilinear section. A periareolar incision may be a more effective technique to reduce the mechanical stress over cohesive gel breast implants during its insertion. periareolar incision, inframammary incision, comparison of mammary incisions, breast implant incisions