Breast Enlargement Insertion Options

Breast Augmentation in Oakland, El Cerrito, Berkeley and Emeryville, California

There are many decisions that must be made when you choose to undergo breast augmentation. In addition to deciding what size and type of breast implant you want, where the breast implant placement will be, and other details, you must also choose your insertion option. This will determine where the scars will be once you have healed.

Working closely with you to determine what option is most suited to your individual needs, El Cerrito, California area cosmetic surgeon Dr. Patino can ensure the incision is made in an area noticeable only to you.

Transumbilical Breast Augmentation

At the Cosmetic Surgical Center of El Cerrito, we prefer to perform a single transumbilical incision for our breast augmentation procedures. With any other approach, two incisions must be made and they have to be large enough to allow Dr. Patino to make the pockets and place your breast implants. Advancements in cosmetic surgery technology have brought about a solution known as the transumbilical breast augmentation (TUBA).

Transumbilical Breast Augmentation Procedure

The TUBA procedure allows Dr. Patino to make a single incision in your naval that is so tiny it is practically unnoticeable. The incision will be placed inside your belly button (umbilicus) which is a natural scar that resulted from the closing of the umbilical cord at birth. Dr. Patino prefers this approach because he can easily hide the scar inside the navel and no incisions are made on the breasts or into the breast tissue. Through this small opening, a slender instrument passes under the skin to a location behind the breast tissue.

Next, a test implant is inserted and placed under the breast. The test implants are used to finalize the pocket dimensions for the implant size you have chosen. Once Dr. Patino is satisfied with the appearance of your breasts, an empty saline breast implant is then placed in the created pocket and filled with sterile saline solution. Dr. Patino is very careful to adjust the amount of saline injected into your implant based on the size you have selected and help correct or improve any asymmetry that you may have of your breasts. The breast implants can be placed under the muscle (submuscular) or under the breast gland (subglandular).

All sutures in the navel are dissolvable and require no removal. The entire procedure usually takes less than one hour.

Advantages of Transumbilical Breast Augmentation

  • One small, inconspicuous scar in a naturally scared area (the belly button)
  • Less breast trauma than traditional procedures
  • Less risk of bleeding especially when done under tumescent anesthesia
  • Faster recovery
  • Takes less than one hour
  • No risk of injury to the axillary artery or nerve
  • No scars on your breasts, nipples or armpits

This technologically advanced method of breast augmentation is not offered in many cosmetic surgery centers. With his background in general surgical procedures, Dr. Patino has undergone additional training in cosmetic surgery with a focus on this special type of breast enhancement procedure, and is pleased to be able to offer it to all of our patients.

Inframammary Incisions

An inframammary incision is placed in the area where your breast meets your chest and significantly reduces the instance of noticeable scars.

With inframammary incisions, Dr. Patino can place your breast implants in any of the three potential implant positions: subglandular, partial-submuscular, or complete-submuscular, allowing him to place your implants in the most natural looking and desirable location for your particular body.

These incisions heal quickly and usually fade over time.

Dr. Patino will work closely with you, listening to your concerns and needs before suggesting which insertion option is best for you.

If you live in or around Oakland, El Cerrito, Berkeley, or Emeryville, California and are interested in more information on your options for breast enhancement surgery, please contact Dr. Patino at the Cosmetic Surgical Center of El Cerrito to schedule an initial complimentary consultation.