TUBA Method
Transumbilical Breast Augmentation Surgery
Belly Button Incision

Introduction

Transabdominal breast augmentation, or TABA, is a procedure that combines a breast augmentation with a full abdominoplasty using the abdominoplasty incision to perform the breast augmentation as well. Therefore, there are no incisions placed on or near the breast!   

Many prospective patients searching for breast augmentation recognize the term, TUBA.  TUBA stands for transumbilical breast augmentation. TABA is different from the TUBA procedure.  The TUBA is performed with a tunneling device that is placed through an umbilical incision.  Tunnels are made extending to each breast. Once the tunnels are created, the breast implant pocket is balloon dissected and then the empty saline-filled implants are tunneled into the chest and inflated, most of the implants placed this way are performed in a subglandular pocket. Silicone gel implants can not be placed through the very narrow tunnels developed during a TUBA procedure.  So if a patient wants silicone gel implants, another approach has to be used. The TABA procedure is very different.  First, a tunneling device is not used.  The pocket is created under direct vision.  A submuscular or subglandular pocket can be made, and a saline or gel-filled implant can be passed easily through the tunnel.  

Indications 

This operation is indicated for a patient that is a candidate for a breast augmentation as well as a full abdominoplasty.  In addition, a patient should be a good candidate for a breast augmentation.  Therefore, the patient should not have significant breast ptosis, or sagging. If the breasts sag then a mastopexy ( breast lift) is most likely required. All breast lifts would require placing incisions on the breast, and therefore this would preclude using the TABA technique as well.  This is a great procedure for select patients that want an abdominoplasty and a breast augmentation at the same time!  The cumulative operative time is less and the cost is lower for the two procedures than performing the two procedures individually at separate operative settings. The recuperation time is usually about the same as recuperating for either one of the procedures alone. 

Dr. Wallach has published several plastic surgery articles on this subject and also teaches a course on this subject to other plastic surgeons at the national aesthetic surgery meeting. 

Copyright©1997-2008
All About Breast Augmentation and Breast Implants Plastic Surgery Information Resource
All Rights Reserved