Richard V. Dowden, M.D., C.M., F.A.C.S.
Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, Inc.
6770 Mayfield Road, Suite 410
(Mayfield Heights) Cleveland, Ohio 44124
(440) 449-7470
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about
breast enlargement:
How are breast implants put in?
An incision is required in order to get the implants in. There are four locations for the incision: underarm, nipple-areola, lower breast crease, and the navel. The underarm and navel methods are possible thanks to special instruments, special training, and the same modern endoscopic technology that enables surgeons to perform so many of the so-called "bandaid" operations. Usually, the implants are salt-water filled, so they can be put in empty, then filled in position with saltwater. The filling tube is removed so the internal implant valves can seal up, then a few sutures close the incision.
Silicone gel implants require a slightly longer incision, and can only be put in via the underarm, the areola, and the lower breast crease incision.
In June of 2000, for the first time in nearly 40 years of breast implant use, the FDA gave official government approval of implants. However, that approval did not include the endoscopic methods. The manufacturers wanted to include the transaxillary (underarm) and transumbilical (TUBA) method in their brochures, but those methods were not included in the data submitted to the FDA to get implants approved. Because they did not submit the data, they were not permitted by the FDA to recommend those or any endoscopic method in their brochures.
In fact, the FDA panel forced the manufacturers to recommend against ALL endoscopic methods, regardless of incision location, including the axillary (underarm) method as it is usually done. The upshot of this is that most plastic surgeons will continue doing the procedures just as they have been doing all along. Most people are just glad that the FDA finally gave implants any approval at all, after nearly forty years of their being used without any FDA approval whatsoever!
Details are available about the insertion of implants via the navel.
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This information may not be reproduced or distributed electronically or in print without permission from Dr. Dowden.
Note that while the information given by Dr. Dowden during a consultation is completely current and up-to-date, the information of this website is only as current as the date of last update, and therefore may become out-of-date.
6770 Mayfield Road, Suite 410
(Mayfield Heights) Cleveland, Ohio 44124
(440) 449-7470
Note: To ensure privacy for our patients, all of our outgoing phone lines have their caller ID permanently blocked; if your phone does not accept blocked ID calls you will not be able to receive any calls back from our office.
Last Update: 7:27 PM on 06/01/2008
URL of Dr. Dowden's home page:
http://dr-dowden.com/index.html
URL of breast enlargement page:
http://dr-dowden.com/main/augment.html
URL of breast enlargement via navel page:
http://dr-dowden.com/main/tuba.html
Keywords: Breast implants through the navel;
Transumbilical breast implants; Belly-button breast implants;
Through-the-navel breast enlargement; Through-the-navel breast augmentation;
Trans-umbilical breast augmentation; Trans-umbilical breast enlargement;
Belly-button breast enlargement; Belly-button breast augmentation;
Breast enlargement through the navel; Breast augmentation through the navel;
Navel breast enlargement; Navel breast augmentation; 'Scarless' breast enlargement;
'Scarless' breast augmentation.