Alternatives and trade-offs in breast augmentation.

Selection of alternatives for breast augmentation should be prioritized in the order in which those selections are most likely to affect short- and long-term outcomes. Every selection of alternative must be reconciled with patient priorities and patient tissue limitations. This discussion addresses selection of alternatives for breast augmentation sequenced in order of priority, including the following: assuring adequate soft tissue coverage (pocket location), implant size and type, patient tissue limitations, long-term implant-soft tissue dynamics, incision approach, intraoperative techniques and instrumentation to optimize control, and intraoperative techniques to minimize tissue trauma.