Transumbilical breast augmentation or TUBA is a breast augmentation procedure done with a full abdominoplasty. The doctor here uses the abdominoplasty incision for both the abdominoplasty and the breast augmentation. This means that there is no need of making incisions near the breast. It was in the early nineties that transumbilical breast augmentation was developed by Dr. Gerald Johnson to avoid visible scars around the breast and to allow both breasts implants through a single incision.

The procedure TUBA is done under general anesthesia where a small incision is made in the fold of skin over the belly button. Using a blunt instrument called the obturator, the surgeon gently tunnels under the skin till the breast crease. Depending on where the implant is to be placed, the surgeon dissects either the loose connective tissue found between the muscle and breast tissue or under the chest muscle. All this is done with the help of an endoscope. Next, a breast implant sizer rolled into a taco shaped roll is guided through the tunnel to create a pocket. It is then inflated with sterile saline water to create a size larger than the size of final implant for refined dissection.

The same procedure is adapted for the other breast, and checked for asymmetries after which the sizers are deflated and removed. The implants are then similarly implanted and breast sizes are equalized by varying the amount of saline in each implant.

Recovery time Once both breasts are symmetrical, the saline fill tube is gently pulled out of the self sealing valve of each implant. The belly incision is then closed using sutures and dressed with a light compression and later dissolves in the body. Based on whether the implants were placed over or under the muscle, you will require 2-7 days to recover and return to normal activities after a Transumbilical Breast Augmentation.

However like any surgery, total healing takes between 6 to 12 months.

Dr. Mark Schusterman now includes transumbilical breast augmentation (TUBA) in his scope of cosmetic surgery procedures.

An endoscopic surgical procedure through the belly button, TUBA offers patients the option of a less invasive surgery than conventional breast augmentation procedures. The short surgery time (between 30 to 45 minutes) helps reduce the amount of anesthesia, operating room time and recovery time.

From the cosmetic perspective, one of the most sought-after advantages with TUBA is the virtually non-existent scar. The procedure involves a short “C” or “J” shaped incision which is easily hidden by the folds of the belly button.

Other TUBA benefits include less risk of injury to the sensory nerves of the nipple and breast and less likelihood of infection. Dr. Schusterman typically performs the procedure on an outpatient basis with the use of general or local anesthesia in an accredited Houston hospital.

Dr. Schusterman was personally trained by Dr. Gerald Johnson (retired), the inventor of TUBA, and since then has performed many TUBA surgeries.

Dr. Schusterman continuously seeks out advanced training in procedures that complement his practice and bring benefits to patients. He comments, “Since each person’s body is different, the ability to offer different surgery techniques is very important to my patients.”

About Dr. Mark Schusterman

Dr. Schusterman is double certified — Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and Board Certified in General Surgery. He is a well-known and successful educator, author and public speaker. He has performed thousands of surgeries, including breast augmentations, implants, lifts and reductions, breast reconstruction after mastectomy, and body and facial contouring procedures. A complete list and description of procedures can be found at www.alwaysyouthful.com.

Dr. Mark Schusterman, Houston plastic surgeon, has successfully performed 53 Transumbilical Breast Augmentations (TUBA) since he began offering this procedure to his patients in October 2006. He has received 356 web inquiries about the procedure over the last year and the interest continues to grow.

TUBA, breast augmentation through the belly button, was first introduced in 1991 but since it requires a high level of technical expertise, few surgeons have pursued the training. Also, several misconceptions about TUBA, including that it increases the possibility of complications and is a blind technique, meaning correct implant placement would be difficult, have previously hindered interest in the procedure.

However, the truth is with an experienced surgeon like Dr. Schusterman, the complication rate is actually lower than traditional breast augmentations and the endoscope used during the procedure visually confirms the tunnel, breast pocket dissection and implant placement.

As these and other misconceptions are clearing up, the interest in TUBA is growing. Dr. Schusterman continues to emphasize that TUBA offers many advantages over traditional breast augmentations as it is considered the less invasive option with a shorter surgery time (between 30 to 45 minutes), reduced anesthesia, and recovery time.

TUBA is just one example of how Dr. Schusterman continuously seeks out advanced training in procedures that complement his practice and bring benefits to patients. He comments, “Since each person’s body is different, the ability to offer different surgery techniques is very important to my patients.”

About Dr. Mark Schusterman

Dr. Schusterman is double certified — Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and Board Certified in General Surgery. He is a well-known and successful educator, author and public speaker. He has performed thousands of surgeries, including breast augmentations, implants, lifts and reductions, breast reconstruction after mastectomy, and body and facial contouring procedures. A complete list and description of procedures can be found at www.alwaysyouthful.com.