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Breast Augmentation Through the Belly Button?

asked 3 years ago by Shar
Latest answer by Edwin C. Pound, III, MD
Question viewed 5,417 times
Tags: belly button, technique, TUBA

I have seen this procedure on television, but with the consultations I've had with doctors, no one really seems to want to do it. Is there a reason why? I know the best incision option for me would be through the areola since one of mine is larger than the other and that could be corrected at the same time. But if it wasn't for that, I would want to go through the belly button due to no detectable scarring. Why is this procedure not as popular?

23 answers to Breast Augmentation Through the Belly Button?

Popularity of TUBA

I have been doing the TUBA procedure for over twenty years now on patients from all over the world. The results are excellent in the right hands. As you read through the responses to this question, you will see a lot of negative things written about the TUBA procedure. I think these doctors have either never done a TUBA procedure or have never seen one done. I have had many doctors come to observe me do this procedure and they all leave the O.R. shaking their heads at... more

Edwin C. Pound, III, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

TUBA - not my preferred approach

I have never been that impressed with the transumbilical approach to breast augmenation but I have never performed the surgery myself. In my opinion the accurate dissection of the implant pocket is critical to obtain a nice result. I would find it difficult to be that precise from such a long distance away. In addition you can only use saline filled implants via the TUBA approach. If a patient does not want a scar on the breast then the axillary or under the arm incision is an option.... more

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Long run for a short slide

While some doctors use it and swear by it, I think it is what I would call a long run for a short slide especially in lieu of a periareolar incision that statistically heals the best of all scars. The belly button approach is a blind technique from the furthest distance you can get from the palce of action, the breast. It is nearly impossible to correct problems with the implant or pocket from this incision and since a majority of women with implants will come to a second surgery within 10... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Transumbilical breast augmentation?

I do not think that this is a good operation for the reasons my colleagues have discussed below. I see, in my practice, more patients for revisionary surgery after the TUBA procedure (taking into account the relative numbers of procedures done through different approaches) then after breast augmentation procedures done through the other approaches available. Usually these problems are related to implant positioning. Make sure you seek consultation with well experienced what... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Breast implants placed through belly button (TUBA): plus and minuses

The only real advantage to the TUBA (Trans-Umbilical Breast Augementation) is the scar and the marketing benefit. Other than that, there are numerous disdavantages: inability to place silicone implants, limited pocket visualization, difficulty in achieving hemostasis, rough handling of the implant, risk of abdominal scarring along dissection path, disruption of infra-mammary fold, lack of utility in breast implant remove and replace procedures, use of blunt dissection and lack of precise... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation through the belly button

The only real advantage to placing implants through the trans-umbilical approach is the scar. Since most scars heal well, this is not a huge advantage. There are however numerous disadvantages to this approach. First, silicone gel implants cannot be used. Second, revisions are relatively more common. Lastly, it is much more challenging to reliably place the implant in the appropriate position in regards to the muscle. Still, there are a... more

Kelly Gallego, MD
Sioux City Plastic Surgeon

Breast Augmentation Through the Belly Button?- A Stupid Idea!

There are so many reasons why no one wants to do this operation. In my opinion, this is a stupid operation that should never have seen the light of day, period. The main reason is that the results are usually not as good, often lop sided, and in my opinion, generally sub par (if, for example, you compare a series of consecutive cases- sure, you can cherry pick good examples with good results, but what are they like on average?). You always have to use saline... more

Claudio DeLorenzi, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation through the belly button: more cons than pros

The reason why it isn't more popular is because there are significant drawbacks to the method: you can only use saline implants the pocket dissection is indirect and prone to asymmetry it is almost always offered only above the muscle when you need them replaced, you have to go back through the crease or areola; now you have more scars than if you had not gone transumbilical in the first place cannot control bleeding well during surgery because of the... more

Lawrence Tong, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Requesting Breast Augmentation with belly button incision.....

This is the most infrequently performed method of breast augmentation due to the limitations of the implants and the limitations to the surgeon. Silicone Implants can NOT be used with this procedure technique. Saline filled implants are the only option. The surgeon has a limited amount of control for symmetry and to give the patient optimal results. In my practice I use the areolar incision sites and most frequently use the infra-mammary fold... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation through the belly button is not very popular.

TUBA is one of 4 main access incisions used for breast augmentation but is by far the most infrequently performed. If you are absolutely decided on TUBA then please seek out a plastic surgeon that performs a high volume of that particular procedure because There is a VERY steep learning curve. If you go to a surgeon that only performs 30-40 a year you will still be one of the patients he/she is learning on. By no means do I want to try to persuade you if you are absolutely convinced... more

Richard H. Fryer, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

The problems with breast augmentation through the belly button

The breast augmentation procedure you refer to is known as TUBA - TransUmbilical Breast Augmentation. This is a procedure that gained great popularity in the past because the potential for minimal scars in breast augmentation. However, many surgeons have abandoned the procedure due to its inconsistent results. The obvious problem with this procedure is in its inherent inaccuracy for surgery. Because the creation of the implant pocket is a precise procedure, the farther away you are, the more... more

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Belly Button Breast Augmentation Options and Risks

There are many techniques available to augment the female breast. Incisions vary in terms of their long term scarring. To surgeons, incision placement allows for safe and efficient dissection of the anatomic area involved. Often, it is difficult to meticulously dissect the upper pole of the breast and lower pole of the breast through the transumbilical technique, leading to breasts that have upper or lower pole fullness with an unaesthetic appearance. Further,... more

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation through the belly button is possible

A breast augmentation through the belly button is also known as a trans umbilical breast augmentation. It is possible to perform the surgery in certain select patients. Patients appreciate the lack of incisions around their breast or torso. However, patients should understand that only saline implants may be used with this technique. Patients should also look closely at the manufacturers warranty as the warranty is often avoided with this technique. To learn more about breast... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.miamiaesthetic.com

No detectable breast scars but high chance of lop-sided breasts

By placing implants through the belly button you may avoid a scar on the breast however you tremendously increase the chance of the breasts appearing lop-sided and asymmetric due to poor implant placement. Fixing it usually requires another surgery leaving a scar on the breast that you originally set out to avoid. Consider a transaxillary (thru the armpit) placement if you are absolutely adverse to against having a breast scar.

Adam Hamawy, MD
Westchester Plastic Surgeon

Breast implant through the belly button-much ado about nothing.

It is admirable to minimize the resulting scar from any operation. However, scars from breast augmentation (regardless of the route) are almost never an issue after breast augmentation. The TUBA (trans umbilical breast augmentation) is a tedious operation through a remote site that might possibly damage the implant. And there is a scar in the navel.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation through belly button voids warranty.

Hi The breast implant manufacturers think that breast augmentation through the belly button is such a bad idea (possible damage to implant) that they void their warranty if the operation is done this way. That should tell you something.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Be careful with breast augmentation through belly button

Hello, The "Through the Belly Button" breast implant operation has several pitfalls or many more plastic surgeons would do it: (1) It can result in the development of visible tunnels or depressions leading from abdomen to the base of each breast. These are not universal but when they form they are difficult to fix. I have seen a few patients with these. (2) Implant position control. It is hard to get as close to even with this operation as with other breast implant placement... more

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

TUBA procedure

TUBA is a popular requested procedure because of the limited scarring and distant location of entry through the umbilicus. It was popular to put saline implants in that way because they can be rolled up like a cigarette before inflation. However, even with that being said, it can be difficult to control problems with the pocket and bleeding through this approach. Silicone gel implants can not be placed this way.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Not everything on TV is helpful

Unfortunately, there are is so much information out there for patients to see, that it can be difficult to determine what procedures actually work and which are more unpredictable. As the answers from the other surgeons have demonstrated, most of us would not perform this procedure, and some would but only in very specific circumstances when the patient understands the downsides of this approach, which can be massive. From my point of view, the two big concerns are malposition of the... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

It's a long haul

Shar, In general, the farther away from something you are when working on it, the less control you have over it. For this reason, the transumbilical breast augmentation or TUBA offers the least control during placement of the implants. Many plastic surgeons are uncomfortable with this smaller margin of error and unwilling to take the risk. There are a small number of plastic surgeons performing this procedure, but you can likely find one in your area. Make sure it is a plastic surgeon... more

Kenneth R. Francis, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast augmentation through the belly button is fraught with more potential complications.

Thank you for your great question? First allow me to say that it is imperative that you see a board certified plastic surgeon that is experienced in breast surgery, especially in breast augmentation procedures. You need to discuss the various options and alternatives of surgery as it applies to you. Breast augmentation through the belly button portal is fraught with more potential complications. The most common problem that I have seen with patients seeking a second opinion is issues with... more

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD
Englewood Plastic Surgeon

Few do the TUBA - because they really care about you!

Almost all Board Certified Plastic Surgeons are upstanding, ethical, hard working, well-trained professionals who really want the best for their patients. Sometimes this leads us to make choices to NOT perform surgeries that have been popularized on TV because they do not make sense or are not in the best interest of our patients. TUBA is one of these. It doesn't even make logical sense... The best augmentations come from creating perfectly symmetrical pockets for the implants. Implants... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Areolar asymmetry

TUBA is a nice procedure for a straightforward breast augmentation with a saline implant. It does of course leave a significant scar on the belly button, and breast implants can be placed through about a 1 inch incision under the breasts as well, an incision which can be reused for redo surgery. Since most patients have their breast implants redone, and since that cannot be done through the TUBA approach, we don't see much use for this incision. I suppose for a patient who cannot tolerate... more