MEDICAL PROCEDURE: Doctor raises the bar

Breast augmentation procedure reduces patient's recovery time

Dr. Ryan Mitchell, a surgeon based in Seven Hills, has introduced a new procedure for breast augmentation surgery called Transumbilical Breast Augmentation, which was developed more than 10 years ago and has grown in popularity since.

Though TUBA procedures are practiced in Southern California, Mitchell is the first surgeon to perform them in the Las Vegas Valley.

The TUBA procedure was developed by Dr. Gerald Johnson in 1991, but isn't yet widely performed by surgeons because they have to take time off from regular practice to learn it.

But according to Mitchell, the technique is becoming increasingly popular with currently training surgeons. It is performed using a special endoscope that allows for less invasive surgery. A small incision is made in the bellybutton, and then a track is planned through the abdomen to each breast following the path that would be made for a liposuction procedure.

A "sizer" is used to create a pocket either above or below the muscle and the implant, which is rolled up like a cigar, passed through the track into position, and then inflated with saline. Once the implant has been placed and filled, the incision is closed with four to five stitches.

The entire procedure takes between 45 minutes to an hour.

"With the TUBA procedure, things are done much the same way as with other augmentation methods, but there's a shorter recovery time and the procedure is less invasive because we don't have to disturb the breast tissue," Mitchell said.

Mitchell moved to Las Vegas a year ago to work with Dr. Scott Manthei at Nevada Eye & Ear. Mitchell knew Manthei because both doctors graduated from the same residency program.

Mitchell opened the Las Vegas Center for Cosmetic Surgery as a division of Nevada Eye & Ear, which has been open for about 17 years, and has three offices through the valley, including one in Boulder City. He completed a five-year residency at Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital, where he was trained as an ear, nose and throat surgeon as well as a facial plastic, body sculpting and cosmetic surgeon.

According to Mitchell, the TUBA procedure allows for a virtually scarless surgery because the scar left from the incision is very small and well hidden inside the bellybutton.

"I've had a very high patient satisfaction rate with the TUBA procedure, and a very high patient referral rate, so I think that says a lot about the benefits of this method," he said.

One of Mitchell's patients, Rosine Frangie, 26, said she researched breast augmentation methods for four years before meeting Mitchell and learning about TUBA. Frangie had the TUBA procedure done on July 29, and said she would recommend it to anyone interested in augmentation.

"The recovery was a piece of cake. There wasn't much physical pain, just a little discomfort when I was sleeping or lifting my arms," Frangie said. "When Dr. Mitchell described the procedure I thought it would be worse than it was, but the scar in my navel is almost gone already, and it didn't leave any marks on my stomach."

The procedure can be done even if the recipient has a pierced navel, and allows for faster surgery overall and fewer complications. Mitchell said he finds there is less bleeding using the TUBA procedure and a quicker recovery time.

Mitchell practices at Nevada Eye & Ear's locations throughout the Las Vegas Valley, including locations at 2598 Windmill Parkway, 860 Seven Hills Drive, 351 N. Buffalo Drive and 999 Adams Blvd. in Boulder City.


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