Description
Cosmetic mammary augmentation is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures on women. Dr. Lev uses an incision in the breast fold (inframammary) and the implant under the breast tissue (sub-glandular) position.

Basically there are two kinds of implants, both consist of a silicone shell, but can be filled with saline solution (salt water) or with silicone gel.

Dr. Lev feels that gel-filled implants are softer, feel more natural, are lighter and their rate of deflation is very small (less than 2%). He feels they are safe. You may find more information about silicone later in this page.

Saline-filled implants have the lowest rate of capsular contracture (hard breast), but are heavier, do not feel so natural, and deflate from 5% to 20% of the patients completely and in a higher rate partially.

The anesthesia is general, performed by an M.D anesthesiologist. It is an inpatient procedure requiring an overnight stay in the hospital. The surgery takes about 90 minutes.

For 2 weeks after surgery: No driving, do not lift anything over 5 pounds, sleep on your back, do not make love and do not elevate your elbows higher than your shoulders.

You will probably feel somewhat tired and sore for several days following the operation, and your breasts may remain swollen and sensitive to physical contact for as long an 2 months. It is advisable to stay at least 7 days after surgery in Costa Rica. Wearing a bra is important starting the day after surgery.

Complications
Undergoing any invasive surgical procedure means running the risk of complications like the effects of anesthesia, infection, swelling, bleeding, pain, and delayed healing. In addition, there are potential complications specific to breast implants. These complications include: Deflation of the implant, interference with mammography, contraction of the scar tissue capsule around the implant (capsular contracture).

About Silicone
Silicones are a family of chemical compounds. They are made from silicon, a naturally occurring element found in sand, quartz, and rock. Next to oxygen, silicon is the most common element in the earth's crust, and becomes silicone when it is combined with oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. Depending on the arrangement of the molecules, silicones can be manufactured in a variety of forms, including oils, gels, and solids. Silicones have been part of the consumer industry for over 50 years.

Because they can be manufactured in various ways, silicones appear in a wide variety of products that most of us use everyday, such as hairspray, suntan lotion, and moisturizing cream, to name just a few of the consumer products that contain one form of silicone called dimethicone.

The applications of silicone, whether used as an oil, gel, or solid, are equally extensive in the medical field. For example, the lubricating qualities of silicones make them ideal for coating surgical needles and suture thread, as well as the inside of syringes and bottles used for the storage of blood and intravenous medicines. Protective silicone coatings have also been used in pacemakers and heart valves.

Other medical devices utilizing silicones include: artificial joints, catheters, drainage systems, facial implants, tissue expanders, and breast implants. Silicone products have been shown to be biocompatible, reliable, flexible, and easy to sterilize, making them an ideal choice for both implantable and non-implantable medical devices.

Safety issues concerning the use of silicone in medical devices have primarily focused on the possible link between breast implants (both saline-filled and gel-filled) and certain illnesses, including breast cancer and connective tissue disorders (also referred to as autoimmune diseases such as lupus, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis).

Silicone materials have been tested extensively in laboratory studies, as well as clinical studies (those that study human health). Of the one to two million women who have received breast implants, much scientific evidence has already been gathered.