Transumbilical Silicone Breast Augmentation: A 13-Year Experience and 5-Year Analysis

Transumbilical breast augmentation (TUBA) with saline implants has been considered a safe and efficient technique for decades. However, because silicone implants are more popular than saline ones, TUBA with saline implants is not widely performed. In 2014, we published a report on transumbilical breast augmentation using silicone cohesive gel implants. As we have performed transumbilical silicone breast augmentation (TUSBA) for 13 years with slight modifications, this study aimed to describe this novel technique and present accompanying patient outcomes over 5 years.

We enrolled patients desiring breast augmentation at a single center. The preoperative design was initially determined with the patients in standing positions before they underwent surgery under general anesthesia in a supine position.

Between January 2018 and December 2022, 69 women and one man underwent TUSBA at a single center. All patients underwent cohesive gel silicone implantation in the subpectoral pocket. The implant size varied from 225 to 300 mL (average 272 mL) because two patients underwent surgery with implants of different sizes due to breast asymmetry. All patients were satisfied with the surgery outcome except one who was dissatisfied because of abdominal bulging.

TUSBA offers advantages such as minimal scarring and unrestricted arm movement; thus, it can be an alternative option for patients seeking breast augmentation.

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