GLOSSARY OF MEDICAL TERMS

Acromiothoracic artery – An artery that delivers blood to the breasts

Areola – A region of dark tissue surrounding the nipple which contains Montgomery's glands.

Armpit incision – An incision made in the armpit during breast enlargement surgery; properly known as the transaxillary incision.

Augmentation mammaplasty – A cosmetic or reconstructive procedure designed to enlarge and reshape the breast.

Bottoming out – an unnatural look in which the nipple rides to high, usually occurs as a result of the breast implant being placed too low on the chest.

Breast implants – A silicone rubber casing used during reconstructive or cosmetic breast surgery, usually filled with silicone gel or saline solution.

Breast pocket – A compartment created during breast enlargement surgery for the placement of the breast implant.

Breast enlargement – A surgical procedure in which the breasts are enlarged through the use of a silicone prosthesis which is filled placed beneath the breast or pectoral muscle and then filled with saline solution.

Breast lift – A procedure designed to reshape and lift sagging breasts. Also referred to as a mastopexy, a breast lift is often implemented along with breast reduction or breast enlargement.

Breast ptosis – sagging of the breasts.

Breast reconstruction – The surgical process of rebuilding a breast that has been removed.

Breast reduction – A surgical process designed to diminish the size of large breasts. Breast reduction is often used for cosmetic purposes as well as to provide physical relief form lower-back pain and other related conditions.

Capsular contracture – A common complication associated with breast enlargement surgery that occurs when the breast implant is squeezed by the shrinkage of the surrounding breast capsule. Cases of extremely firm capsula contracture may require surgical correction.

Complete unders – The process by which the breast implant is placed behind the chest muscles; the informal name for sub-muscular implant replacement.

Complete sub-muscular implant placement – A type of breast implant placed completely behind the pectoralis muscle; also known as “complete unders.”

Cosmetic surgery – Any surgery designed to enhance one's appearance for purely visual reasons and not as a medical necessity.

Crease incision – An incision made during breast enlargement surgery directly above the crease where the chest and breast meet; also known as the inframammary fold.

Deflation/rupture – An occurrence that takes place when a breast implant leaks; is characterized by a decrease in size or variance in shape of the breast with the most affected. While the leakage of saline does not pose any health risks, surgery may be needed to remove or replace the defective implant.

Delayed reconstruction – Breast reconstruction that is implemented for an extended period of time following a mastectomy. This could be weeks, month, or even years.

DIEP flap breast reconstruction – A method of breast reconstruction in which new, natural-looking breasts are formed by skin taken from the lower abdomen.

Expander implant – A temporary breast implant most often used during breast reconstruction or breast enlargement in order to stretch the breast tissue before a permanent implant is placed.

Extrusion – A rare complication associated with breast enlargement surgery that is generally caused by the erosion of a breast implant through a scar or the skin.

Inframammary incision (crease or fold) – Often used during breast enlargement surgery to place breast implants, this incision is made just above the crease where the chest and breast meet.

Intercostal arteries – Arteries responsible for delivering blood to the breasts.

Latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction – A method of breast reconstruction wherein the latissimus dorsi (a back muscle) is moved from the back to the position of the breast.

Mammaplasty – Any form of plastic surgery performed on the breast such as breast reconstruction, breast reduction, breast lift, and breast enlargement.

Mammary – Having to do with the breast.

Mastectomy – The process of removing breast tissue because of a cancerous or precancerous growth being present. A number of women who have had a mastectomy often choose to undergo breast reconstruction in order to restore the natural appearance of breasts.

Mastopexy – The technical name for a breast lift. This procedure involves the reshaping and lifting of sagging breasts. A mastopexy is often performed along with a breast reduction or breast enlargement.

Necrosis – A rare complication associate with breast enlargement surgery that occurs as a result of dead tissue shaping around the implant. Implant removal or surgical correction may be required.

Nipple incision – Used in breast enlargement surgery, this incision is made around the areola; also known as the periareolar incision.

Overs – An informal name given to sub-glandular implant replacement; a process that involves the placement of implants in front of the pectoralis muscle and behind the mammary gland.

Partial unders – An informal name assigned to sub-pectoral implant replacement; a procedure which involves the placement of the upper two-thirds of the breast implant behind the chest muscle.

Partial sub-muscular implant placement – A type of breast implant placed in such a way that the upper two-thirds are behind the chest muscles; also known as “partial unders.”

Periareolar incision (nipple) – Often used during breast enlargement surgery, this incision is made in the region surrounding the areola; also known as the nipple incision.

Pole – The lower or upper half of the breast implant.

Postoperatively adjustable implant – A breast implant that permits the volume to be altered, preceding implantation, within a determined range.

Prosthesis – Any synthetic device used to represent or replace any part of the body.

Rippling – Wrinkles or ridges appearing the breast implant as a result of the implant being improperly filled, low tissue coverage, or the skin being too thin.

Saline – A solution comprised of water and a small degree of salt. Upon being placed behind the breasts, saline solution is used to fill the breast implants.

Saline implant – A saline breast implant is comprised of a silicone elastomer shell or bag filled with a sterile saline solution.

Silicone elastomer – A form of silicone that has elastic properties and is often used to fabricate the exterior shell of breast implants.

Silicone gel – A somewhat solid gel-like substance that keeps its consistency while maintaining the natural yield of breast tissue.

Silicone implant – A silicone breast implant is comprised of a silicone elastomer shell or bag filled with silicone gel.

Sub-glandular implant placement – The process of placing implants behind the mammary glands and in front of the chest muscles; also called “overs.”

Tissue expander – An adaptable type of implant that can be filled with salt water to expand the tissue at the site of a mastectomy in order to allow for the placement of a breast implant or the creation of a new tissue flap.

TRAM flap breast reconstruction – A method of breast reconstruction in which a new, natural-looking breast is formed by tissue from the transverse rectus abdominus (a lower abdominal muscle).

Transaxillary incision – An incision made in the armpit during breast enlargement surgery; also known as the armpit incision.

TUBA incision (navel) – An incision made at the rim of the navel during breast enlargement surgery

Tubular breasts – A type of deformity wherein the areola appears to be stretched and breast underdeveloped. What ensues are tubular-shaped breasts.

Unders – An informal name given to the sub-pectoral implant placement procedure which consists of placing the upper two-thirds of the breast implant to the rear of the chest muscles. “Under” also refers to the sub-muscular implant placement procedure which requires the breast implant to be placed directly behind the pectoralis muscle.