Frequently Asked Questions

The cost of breast implants can vary dramatically based on your market. In New York City, the cost for saline breast implants may run $5000 to $7000, and silicone breast implant surgery may run $7000 to $10,000. In our Gainesville, Florida market, breast implant surgery typically runs just under $4000 for saline implants and about $5000 for silicone breast implants.

Both saline and silicone breast implants have their advantages and disadvantages. Most women with good breast skin quality and adequate breast tissue are good candidates for saline breast implants. Saline implants are less expensive than silicone breast implants, but some patients may have rippling or wrinkling of the implant that is palpable through the skin Generally, silicone implants are for women with thin soft tissue coverage, poor skin quality, or for those where price is less of a factor. Silicone implants have a much more natural feel to them and have less rippling or wrinkling. The main disadvantages of silicone implants are the added cost and the fact the long term safety of the current generation of implants is being studied. It is also more difficult to tell if a silicone implant has ruptured, and studies, such as an MRI, may be needed to check.

Breast augmentation, also known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a procedure that enhances the size and shape of a woman's breast. In 2014, more than 286,000 breast augmentation surgeries were performed in the United States. It is one of the more common procedures performed by Board Certified plastic surgeon Dr. John W. Tyrone. Generally, most healthy women are candidates for breast augmentation surgery. Age is not a contraindication to breast implant surgery, and it is not uncommon for women in their 50's or later to undergo the procedure. Breast augmentation can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with Dr. Tyrone. If you're physically healthy and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.

A breast implant is a medical device with a silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or a salt-water solution known as saline. Most cosmetic breast augmentation involves the placement of saline-filled implants behind the breast or chest muscle. For the majority of women, saline implants are safe and reliable, and make and excellent choice. For a select group of patients, Dr. Tyrone may recommend silicone gel breast implants. These include patients with very thin soft tissues coverage of the chest, those who require a breast lift in conjunction with an augmentation and those patients who require implants following breast cancer surgery. Silicone gel implants are available to women who meet inclusion criteria determined by the FDA. This includes most women over the age of 22 years old. A waiver is available for patients under 22 who wish to undergo breast implant surgery. Dr. Tyrone will discuss with you the advantages and disadvantages of each type of breast implant, and help you make a decision that is best for you.

During your initial breast augmentation consultation, Dr. Tyrone will inquire about your medical and surgical history including current medications and allergies. It is important to be thorough when discussing your medical history as safety is Dr. Tyrone's top priority. Your full disclosure of all pertinent medical information prior to surgery will reduce the incidence of unwanted surgical complications. You will discuss your concerns and motivations for seeking breast augmentation. Details of the breast augmentation will be discussed including incision placement, implant type and size as well what is expected of you preoperatively and postoperatively. The risks of surgery will also be discussed in detail. Numerous before and after photographs of actual patients will be reviewed during your consultation. Dr. Tyrone will be able to tell you where the incisions in the photographs are located as well as the size of the implants. Frequently, during this part of the breast augmentation consultation, the patient sees a photograph that she feels is most similar to the before and after result she would like to obtain. Following your consultation, you will meet with our patient coordinator, to discuss scheduling your surgery and answer any other questions you may have.

Once you have scheduled your breast augmentation surgery with Dr. Tyrone, you will be given preoperative instructions that discuss everything from finances to follow-up visits after your surgery. Prior to your breast augmentation, you will receive prescriptions form Dr. Tyrone's patient coordinator. It is important to have the medication prescriptions filled in the days prior to your surgery so they are waiting for you when you return home from surgery. You will receive a list of medications (i.e. aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to avoid for 14 days prior to your breast augmentation surgery. Additionally, though there is no scientific proof that certain medications reduce bruising, swelling and pain after breast augmentation surgery, Dr. Tyrone’s office offers Arnica Montana to take prior to and after your procedure, if you so choose. Finally, the night before surgery, shower and wash as you would normally and do not eat or drink after midnight. The surgical center will call you prior to surgery and go over any additional information.

Dr. Tyrone performs breast augmentation surgery in a new, state of the art operating facility located in Gainesville, Florida. North Florida Plastic Surgery is located in Gainesville, Florida is certified at the highest level by American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities. Our entire staff is dedicated to your comfort and satisfaction. A beautifully decorated reception area, comfortable exam rooms and attentive care from our staff through all phases of your recovery help to make your entire surgical experience a pleasant one. Every measure has been taken to ensure your safety and comfort. When you arrive at the surgery center for your breast implant surgery with Dr. Tyrone, you will check in and be escorted to the surgery suite. Dr. Tyrone and his nurses will meet with you prior to your surgery. If Dr. Tyrone feels a hospital is a more appropriate setting for your surgery, he has full privileges at several local hospitals including Shands at the University of Florida.

Provided you are a good candidate for breast augmentation surgery, breast implants will provide you with the increased size and fullness you are seeking. The results will be long lasting. It is important to remember that your breast will continue to age on top of the implant. Breast shape may also subsequently change secondary to pregnancy and fluctuations in weight. Problems with the implants themselves are rare; however, implant rupture may occur and require the placement of a new silicone or saline breast implant. Maintaining a relationship with Dr. Tyrone after your breast augmentation surgery is important to help you address these changes and other concerns which may arise. Regular examination by Dr. Tyrone and routine mammograms for those in the appropriate age groups at prescribed intervals will help assure that any complications, if they occur, can be detected early and treated.

Breast augmentation is relatively straightforward procedure, and most patients have very low risks of complications. But as with any operation, there are risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure. The most common problem, capsular contracture, occurs if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten. This squeezing of the soft implant can cause the breast to feel hard. Capsular contracture can be treated in several ways, and sometimes requires either removal or "scoring" of the scar tissue, or perhaps removal or replacement of the implant. Massage of the breast implants after surgery has been demonstrated to decrease the incidence of capsular contracture. Dr. Tyrone will instruct you on the proper massage technique following surgery, and it is important to follow his recommended regimen. As with any surgical procedure, excessive bleeding following the operation may cause some swelling and pain. If excessive bleeding continues, another operation may be needed to control the bleeding and remove the accumulated blood. A small percentage of women develop an infection around an implant. This may occur at any time, but is most often seen within a week after surgery. In some cases, the implant may need to be removed for several months until the infection clears. A new implant can then be inserted. Some women report that their nipples become oversensitive, under sensitive, or even numb. You may also notice small patches of numbness near your incisions. These symptoms usually disappear within time, but may be permanent in some patients. There is no evidence that breast implants will affect fertility, pregnancy, or your ability to nurse. If, however, you have nursed a baby within the year before augmentation, you may produce milk for a few days after surgery. This may cause some discomfort, but can be treated with medication prescribed by your doctor. Occasionally, breast implants may break or leak. Rupture can occur as a result of injury or even from the normal compression and movement of your breast and implant, causing the man-made shell to leak. If a saline-filled implant breaks, the implant will deflate in a few hours and the salt water will be harmlessly absorbed by the body. If a break occurs in a gel-filled implant, however, one of two things may occur. If the shell breaks but the scar capsule around the implant does not, you may not detect any change. If the scar also breaks or tears, especially following extreme pressure, silicone gel may move into surrounding tissue. The gel may collect in the breast and cause a new scar to form around it, or it may migrate to another area of the body. There may be a change in the shape or firmness of the breast. Both types of breaks may require a second operation and replacement of the leaking implant. In some cases, it may not be possible to remove all of the silicone gel in the breast tissue if a rupture should occur. While there is no evidence that breast implants cause breast cancer, they may change the way mammography is done to detect cancer. When you request a routine mammogram, be sure to go to a radiology center where technicians are experienced in the special techniques required to get a reliable x-ray of a breast with an implant. Additional views will be required. Ultrasound examinations may be of benefit in some women with implants to detect breast lumps or to evaluate the implant. While the majority of women do not experience these complications, Dr. Tyrone will discuss each with you to make sure you understand the risks and consequences of breast augmentation.

Breast lift surgery, whether it is a vertical lift or a full lift, is a procedure that enhances the shape of a woman’s breasts. It is one of the more common procedures performed by Gainesville, Florida Board Certified plastic surgeon Dr. Tyrone. Breast shape is affected by numerous factors, including loss of skin elasticity that occurs with aging, pregnancy, breast feeding and fluctuation in a woman’s weight. As the skin loses its elasticity, the breasts tend to elongate and lose their more youthful form. If you are satisfied with your breast volume but feel your breasts sit too low on your chest, breast lift surgery will address your concerns. A breast lift can restore the contour and shape of your breasts. Dr. Tyrone performs breast lift surgery with the latest, most refined techniques available. He can redefine the bust line by repositioning the nipple and areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple), returning the breast tissue to a more youthful position by removing excess skin from the lower portion of the breast, and reshaping the remaining breast tissue and skin.

During your initial breast lift consultation, Dr. Tyrone will inquire about your medical and surgical history, including current medications and allergies. It is important to be thorough when discussing your medical history, as safety is Dr. Tyrone’s top priority. Your full disclosure of all pertinent medical information prior to surgery is essential to reducing the incidence of unwanted complications. You will discuss your concerns and motivations for seeking cosmetic breast surgery. Details of breast lift or mastopexy surgery will be reviewed, including the location of incisions. Breast lift surgery is not an exact science. Although the majority of women experience no complications, Dr. Tyrone will discuss potential risks and complications of breast lift surgery at the time of your consultation. Prior to undergoing breast lift surgery with Dr. Tyrone, it is important for you to fully understand the risks and potential complications associated with your procedure.

Some patients require a combination of techniques to achieve their goals. As the breasts begin to sag, they may also lose some of their size and volume. Dr. Tyrone will determine which type of lift will provide the best results. If you and Dr. Tyrone decide on a vertical lift, an implant can be placed during the same surgery. If Dr. Tyrone determines you need a full lift, implants then become a staged procedure, with the implants being placed through an existing lift scar 4-6 months after the initial lift surgery. With either lift, a saline or silicone gel breast implant is placed to restore the volume and firmness to your breasts. No additional incisions are needed, as the implants are placed through the breast lift incisions.

Depending on the type of lift you and Dr. Tyrone decide best meets your needs, will determine the scar that will be present after surgery. Vertical lifts do not result in as much scarring as full lifts or breast reductions. Incisions are typically located around the areola (pigmented skin around the nipple) extending down to the fold underneath the breast, and underneath the breast itself. Dr. Tyrone will let you know during your consultation if what type of lift you need and what type of incisions to expect after surgery. Just as any other surgical scar or incision, incisions from breast lift surgery predictably mature and fade over time. Dr. Tyrone has developed a scar gel exclusively for his surgical patients to help reduce scaring as much as possible. Dr. Tyrone will instruct you on how to optimize and support your incisions in the postoperative period.

Once you have scheduled your breast lift surgery with Dr. Tyrone in Gainesville, Florida, you will be given pre-operative instructions that discuss everything from finances to follow-up visits after your surgery. Prior to your breast lift surgery, you may need medical clearance from your primary medical doctor. At your consultation, Dr. Tyrone will instruct you if you need clearance, a mammogram, or any additional testing. In order to achieve optimal results, Dr. Tyrone will also recommend that you be at your goal weight prior to surgery. Dr. Tyrone will also require you to stop smoking before breast lift surgery. It is very important to be honest about smoking, as complications increase significantly if you have ever smoked or are currently smoking. Furthermore, Dr. Tyrone will recommend that you are done having children before undergoing a breast lift, as an incision around the areolar complex can reduce the ability to breast feed. Additionally, having children after a breast lift procedure can result in the returning of loose, sagging skin. At your pre-operative appointment you will go over all surgical consents as well as risks and complications. You will meet with Dr. Tyrone again to review the details of your surgery. Additionally, you will receive prescriptions form Dr. Tyrone prior to breast lift surgery. It is important to have the medication prescriptions filled in the days prior to your surgery so they are waiting for you when you return home from surgery. You will receive a list of medications (i.e. aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to avoid for 14 days prior to your breast surgery with Dr. Tyrone. Additionally, while there is no scientific proof that certain medications reduce bruising, swelling and pain after breast surgery, Dr. Tyrone’s office offers Arnica Montana pills to take prior to and after your procedure. These supplements may help prevent excess swelling and bruising and can be purchased at your pre-op appointment. Finally, the night before surgery, shower and wash as you would normally and do not eat or drink after midnight. Further pre and post-operative instructions will be given closer to the surgical date.

Dr. Tyrone performs breast augmentation surgery in a new, state-of- the-art operating facility located in Gainesville, Florida. North Florida Plastic Surgery is located in Gainesville, Florida, in the same building as Dr. Tyrone’s office and is certified at the highest level by American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities. As an outpatient surgical center Dr. Tyrone offers the latest and safest state of the art technique for anesthesia. This means that you will have no over-night hospital stays and a much easier, more comfortable recovery. Our entire staff is dedicated to your comfort and satisfaction. A beautifully decorated reception area, comfortable exam rooms and attentive care from our staff through all phases of your recovery help to make your entire surgical experience a pleasant one. Every measure has been taken to ensure your safety and comfort. When you arrive at the surgery center for your breast implant surgery with Dr. Tyrone, you will check in and be escorted to the surgical suite. Dr. Tyrone, your anesthesia provider, and his nurses will meet with you prior to your surgery.