Assessment of TUBA Results

In a recently-published comprehensive assessment, doctors took a closer look at the technique of TransUmbilical Breast Augmentation (TUBA), and found that the procedure, although criticized by some doctors, is a safe, effective procedure with a high incidence of patient satisfaction.

TUBA is an endoscopic surgery for breast augmentation where an inch-long incision is made in the patient’s navel. Then the endoscope is inserted to make tracks from the navel to each breast, creating paths through the fatty tissue to guide the implant. In general, only saline implants are used for this technique, because the implant must be fitted through the narrow tracks, and pre-filled, factory-sealed silicone implants cannot be rolled up to follow the track. Once the implants are fitted into place, they are inflated to the appropriate volume to achieve the desired augmentation.

In the study, the authors looked at 245 TUBA breast augmentations conducted by one doctor over the two years from 2002 to 2004. They looked at overall patient satisfaction, and correlated it with:

• Implant placement
• Numbness
• Firmness
• Size satisfaction
• Rippling
• Post-operative pain

In an interesting correlation with yesterday’s topic, a strong negative correlation was found between subglandular placement and overall satisfaction.This may partially be related to the negative correlation between firmness and satisfaction.On the other hand, the only positive correlation with overall satisfaction was submuscular placement of the implant.Post-operative pain and rippling, which have always been believed to correlate with overall satisfaction, were not found to have any statistically significant coincidence.

Complications that were seen with a frequency of greater than 1% as a result of the procedure were:

• Asymmetry (4.1%)
• Capsular contracture (3.7%)
• Umbilical wound infection (3.2%)
• Tunnel seromas, or clear, benign fluid pockets in the endoscopic tracks (2.0 % )
• Deflation (1.2%)

The authors of the survey concluded that the procedure was a safe, effective method for breast augmentation that should be considered by women electing breast augmentation surgery.