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Is TUBA Breast Augmentation with Breast Lift Safe?

asked 2 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Edwin C. Pound, III, MD
Question viewed 841 times
Tags: lift, over muscle, scar, transumbilical (TUBA), TUBA

I came across a surgeon website who practices in NY city that states that the doc is an expert in Transumbilical Breast Augmentation (TUBA) procedure. I have read that there will be no visible scar in TUBA but is this procedure safe and do you recommend this procedure? If I also need a Breast lift, which will leave a scar and will be less painful as Breast implant will be thru' navel and lift will be over the muscle?

So, does it make sense to have a lift with combo of TUBA for implant? Thanks for your great responses so far!

19 answers to Is TUBA Breast Augmentation with Breast Lift Safe?

Transumbilical Breast Augmentation and Breast Lift

Some thoughts regarding your question. I learned the TUBA procedure from its inventor, Dr. G. Johnson, but like many other Plastic surgeons, I do not use it. Although the surgeon you are referring to, a friend of mine, loves the procedures and performs it frequently. The advantages and disadvantages of TUBA aside, as Plastic surgeons we should minimize scarring and maximize what we do with each scar. If you THINK you need a Breast Lift, you probably DO need one. A Breast lift is a separate... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Can I have my Breast Implants Placed through my Belly Button and have a breast lift?

Hi there- As doing a breast lift on you will requires placing scars on them, and as your implants could be placed more carefully, accurately, and with less risk through these scars than through your belly button, I cannot think of a single advantage to you of having the implants placed through your belly button. Can it be done? Probably. Is it in your best interests? Absolutely not.

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

TUBA and Breast Lift

If you are going to have a breast lift, then there is absolutely no reason to have a TUBA breast augmentation. Your implants can be placed through the same incisions as your breast lift. Good luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

TUBA Breast Augmentation with Breast Lift doesn't make sense

Easy answer...NO! Why combine these to operations - TUBA + Lifting? Makes no surgical sense! Please be careful who you let operate on you.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

TUBA for Breast Augmentation but not Lift

The inventor of the TUBA procedure (Dr G. Johnson, now retired) is here in Houston. My personal experience with the technique is exactly what the other doctors have indicated...you have much less control over precise implant placement . I no longer offer the procedure for that reason. Still, I have seen numerous results from Dr. Johnson over the years, and most are really good. There is some signifigant deformity of the belly button that can result, especially in women who are very thin or who more

John LoMonaco, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

TUBA breast augmentation vs. traditional approaches

TUBAs (transumbilical breast augmentation) has a couple of major downsides, including more difficulty in controlling bleeding, more difficulty in controlling the shape of the breast, and inability to use silicone implants. In addition, if you require a lift anyway, your surgeon can easily use those incisions to place the implant-- this is the safest and most proven approach. Also keep in mind that all breast implants may require revision surgery at some point later in your life, even... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Silly combination: TUBA and breast lift

We all have our own opinions, and mine is that TUBA is a marketing gimmick. The selling point is that it allows for breast augmentation with only one scar, and that scar will be hidden. The down side is that the surgeon does not have as much control over the results of surgery due to the remote access and technical limitations which that entails. All of the breast lift operations require a scar on the breast, and these incisions can be used to place the implants with much more finesse. ... more

Michael A. Bogdan, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

TUBA with breast lift does not make sense

If you need a breast lift - or need a large implant, then a TUBA is the wrong procedure. I have been practicing plastic surgery for over 30 years and I was taught that you get the best result operating on the site that has the problem -- i.e. - if you don't like the way your breasts look operate on them not your navel.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

TUBA with breast lift makes no sense

If you need a lift, there will be scars on the breast which can be used to place the implants. The pockets will be more accurate and bleeding is more easily controlled than in a TUBAS. Plus, gels are far more popular implants and they can't be done via a TUBA.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

TUBA with Breast Lift

Although I am not a fan of TUBA in general, I agree that it makes absolutely no sense in your situation. The scars from augmentations are usually not a problem. The lack of a scar is the only advantage of a TUBA. If you are having a concurrent breast lift, there is no way to accomplish this without a scar--the incision from that scar can be used for placement of the implant.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

TUBA and breast lift does not make sense

As you know the reason to do a TUBA procedure would be to avoid scars on the breast mound. To get a breast lift , more than that provided by just an augmentation , there would be scars on the skin of the breast. So if a lift is needed it does not make sense to do a TUBA procedure at the same time.

Walter D. Gracia, MD
Arlington Plastic Surgeon

Can TUBA be combined with a breast lift

It does not make sense to me to have an implant placed through the navel with its own inherent risks when you will have scars on your breast from a lift anyway. If done properly, the scars should be no more exstensive if the implant is placed through mastopexy incisions than with the combined procedure. Just my opinion. Dr. Edwards

Michael C. Edwards, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

www.medwardsmd.com

Trans-umbilical Breast Augmentation (TUBA) and breast lift

A breast augmentation and a breast lift are two different operations. Putting in an implant (breast augmentation) will simply make the breast larger. All you are doing is adding volume. There is nothing about an implant that will actually lift the breast. A breast lift requires incisions on the breast in order to tighten up the breast tissue as well as elevate the nipple/areola to a higher position and give a perkier look to the breast. Because you will need... more

Edwin C. Pound, III, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

TUBA and Breast Lift?

Thank you for the question. Since you are having a breast lift done anyway there is no indication for the trans-umbilical breast augmentation procedure. Breast implants can be “inserted” through one of the breast lifting incisions. Best wishes.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Avoid the TUBA

First of all TUBA procedure does not yield excellent results in general. there is very little precision/ control of the procedure, the plane of the implant is a bit of guess work and only saline implants can be placed. I almost never perform TUBA for these reasons. I almost never use Saline implants because they will never be soft or natural looking. The shell of both Silicone and Saline implants are made of silicone so reactions to silicone is no more or less... more

Rian Maercks, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

TUBA with a lift makes no sense

The whole concept of TUBA (other than being a gimmick to lure in patients) is to avoid a scar on the breast. If you have to have a lift, you are going to have incisions on the breast where the implants can easily be inserted. Therefore, it makes no sense to have TUBA at the same time. There are risks associated with TUBA that are not found with other forms of breast augmentation. A small scar in the crease under the breast is rarely noticeable and hardly anyone complains about it. more

James McMahan, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

Absolutely Not- TUBA abd Breast Lift

NO. TUBA and breast lift is like oil and water. It does not mix and not advised. The TUBA procedure is a very difficult technique and the majority of Plastic Surgeons stay away from it for good reason. Trying to add a breast lift with it is asking for a complication. Trust me.

Miguel Delgado, Jr., MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

www.dr-delgado.com

TUBA and breast lift (mastopexy)

Inherently, it does not quite make sense to have a breast lift with TUBA. If you are destined to have a breast lift, then the implants should be placed through the breast lift incisions. Of course this is my opinion and others may disagree. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

TUBA and Breast lift is more surgery, not less

The advantage of the TUBA (trans umbilical breast augmentation) is a single incision in the belly button. The disadvantages of the TUBA are: 1. Your upper belly is included in the surgery and you will be sore in a larger area than the breast alone. 2. You cannot put a silicone implant through the belly button. 3. It is very hard to get complete muscle coverage of the implant with the TUBA; most surgeons recommend putting implants under the muscle. 4. It is more difficult to precisely... more