How Much Does It Cost for a TUBA in San Diego ,CA. ?

Hello Dani Cali,

I no longer perform TUBA surgery, but performed over 1000 during a 9 year period.  It was a very controversial surgery among most Board Certified plastic surgeons due to its difficulty to perform well and long learning curve. Analysis of my patient's results yielded a capsular contracture rate of 6% in the first year, which lead me to stop performing the surgery.  Evidence based data indicates that a capsular contracture rate of 1-2 % is possible with different techniques. It was a surgery that held the prospect of being scarless, but reoperation always required additional incisions on the breast.  Additionally, only saline filled implants could be utilized with the TUBA.

You should see a few surgeons with great reputations for breast augmentation.  These people should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and be members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Best of luck!

Breast implant surgery involves creating a pocket under the breast to place an implant to enhance the shape and size of the breast.  There are 4 basic incision choices to choose from:


Inframammary (in the fold under the breast)

Peri-areolar (in the color change between the breast skin and the colored areola)

Axillary (in a crease or fold in the armpit)

Umbilical (through an incision located in the belly button)


There are advantages and disadvantages to each incision choice.  The correct choice will be based on the patient's breast shape and size, body shape, choice of implant (saline vs silicone), recovery time, surgeon's experience and cost.  Implants can also be placed through old scars on the breast or abdomen or through incisions if a breast lift is being performed at the same time.

I will sit down and discuss all of the choices with my patients and obtain photographs and measurements of the breasts and chest and review the options.  All the incision choices are shown on photographs of other women who have undergone the procedure to actually see what a final scar looks like 6 weeks, 6 months and  6 years later.  The four main decisions to make when undergoing this procedure are:


Incision location

Implant type (saline vs silicone)

Above or below the muscle

Size of implant


The most difficult decision to make is the size.  The incision or final scar decision is actually not usually a problem.  Having placed over 10,000 implants I can count on one hand the number of complaints or problems I have had from the incision.  The subsequent scar is so small and inconspicuous that NO ONE COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SCAR, no matter where it is placed.

As long as your surgeon is skilled enough to perform a TUBA (trans-umbilical bilateral augmentation) and can stand behind his/her work (i.e. not charge for a revision if necessary), board certified in plastic surgery and you are a good candidate for the procedure, than you will be fine.

My total fee for breast implant surgery is $4,700 for saline implants and $5,700 for silicone implants. This includes the surgeon's fee, facility, anesthesia and implants.  The choice of the incision does not change the price.  Since a TUBA can only be performed with saline implants, the price for a TUBA is $4,700.  I do not live in San Diego, so I cannot comment on your local prices.  Make some phone calls and shop around.

I hope this helps.