What Is it Like to Have No-Scar Breast Implant Surgery: Part 1

Do you know what TUBA is? No, not the musical instrument. It’s actually a kind of cosmetic surgery. TUBA stands for Trans-Umbilical Breast Augmentation. This surgery actually puts in the breast implants through an incision in the belly button (also called the umbilicus). This way, there is no scar in and around the breast after the breast augmentation surgery. This surgery is favored by Dr. Yoho for its safety, speed, accuracy, and for the no-scar results. Well, to be specific, there is a scar, but it’s inside the belly button-not an area that most patients worry about. Dr. Yoho has successfully performed TUBA method surgery thousands of times.

Transumbilical breast augmentation has many advantages over standard approaches for the right patient. Patients experience less downtime and need less post-operative care. So who is the right patient? Good candidates desire larger breast or need breast reconstruction. Good candidates for TUBA also do not want or need a breast lift in addition to breast augmentation, and have good skin elasticity (relatively tight skin). Finally, as with other surgeries, candidates should be in good physical and mental condition (no active diseases, disorders, or mental instabilities).

So, how can breast implants be placed through the navel?

If you were to have TUBA surgery, you would probably be on the operating table for less than an hour. In fact, typical transumbilical breast augmentation takes as little as 20 to 30 minutes. You could have either general anesthetic (which knocks you out), or local anesthesia with IV sedation. Dr. Yoho has long used this special light sedation method to reduce patient side effects from anesthesia. Although the patient is awake during surgery, they are given relaxation medicine and usually don’t remember anything.

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. The first step would be a consultation to evaluate you as a candidate. Then you would decide on the size of your implants. You will try on some different outfits with bra implants to see how you feel with different sizes. Dr. Yoho will also help you to evaluate sizes in terms of your body frame and current breast shape and size. When you go in on the day of surgery, you will once again talk to Dr. Yoho about the implant sizing, and he will mark your body in preparation for the surgery. The lines that cosmetic surgeons draw on patients’ bodies are like a diagram for the operation, partly because bodies look different lying down than standing up. In the case of TUBA, the lines show where the tunnels will go from your belly button to your breasts. You will then be taken to the operating room.

You will be sedated and prepped for surgery. You will receive local anesthetic around the breasts and around your belly button area that will help reduce soreness in post-op and reduce bleeding during surgery. Then, the actual incision is made in your navel. Dr. Yoho carefully separates the tissues around the navel, which helps to prevent the formation of scar tissue. Dr. Yoho thinks that this is one of the advantages of his extensive experience: doctors with less experience might not do this.

Next, a device is threaded inside the incision that creates a tunnel between the navel and each breast. These tunnels are done with a blunt device and not with a knife. In other words, there is no cutting or slicing of tissue in the tunneling procedure. Pockets are also created in the breast area to hold the implant. Dr. Yoho will consult with you before the procedure about his placement (under or over the muscle) of your breast implants.

Next, a tube is run up to the breast with a balloon-expander device. This is inflated until the tissue is taught so that the pressure slows or stops the bleeding, and also finishes the space inside so that the implant will rest easily and naturally after surgery.

Next week: part 2.