Glossary

  • AreolaThe pigmented skin around the nipple.
  • Asymmetry – When a person has a lack of proportion in the size, position or shape of their breasts.
  • Benelli Mastopexy – A breast lift that pulls in the breast tissue by removing a circle of skin around the areolae complex.
  • Bilateral – Involves both the right and left sides of a breast procedure.
  • Bottoming Out – Occurs when the lower halves of the breast fall underneath the crease of the inframammary.
  • Breast Envelope – The subcutaneous tissue and skin that serves to cover the breast and helps to shape it.
  • Breast Lift – A surgical procedure to raise and firm the breasts. Also known as a mastopexy.
  • Breast Augmentation – A surgical procedure designed to increase the size of the breasts.
  • Breast Implant – When an artificial implant is placed in a patient in order to replace or increase the size of the breast.
  • Breast Reconstruction – A surgical procedure to rebuild a breast that has been removed.
  • Buttocks Flap Reconstruction – A breast reconstruction that transfers a flap from the buttocks to the chest in order to create a breast mound.
  • Capsular Contraction – The tightening of the scar tissue surrounding an implant.
  • Capsule – Some scar tissue that forms around the implant. It can squeeze the implant and result in capsular contracture.
  • Closed Capsulotomy – Breaks the capsule of scar tissue around the implant by pushing or pressing down on the outside of the breast.
  • Open Capsulotomy – A surgical incision is placed into the scar tissue located around the implant.
  • Deflation – Occurs when saline solution leaks from the implant.
  • Expander Implant – A temporary breast implant inflated with saline in order to stretch out the tissue in advance of a permanent breast implant.
  • Fibrous Tissues – Connective tissues that are made up mainly of fibers.
  • Flap – A tissue portion that has had its blood supply transferred from one section of the body to another part of the body.
  • Flap Reconstruction – When the breast is rebuilt through the use of a flap to make the breast mound.
  • Gummy Bear Implant – A type of implant that is filled with silicone gel and has the consistency of a gummy bear. The gel does not migrate if the implant ruptures.
  • Inframammary Crease – A crease located where the breast envelope meets the skin over the rib cage underneath the breasts.
  • Inframammary Fold – The crease that is found at the base of the chest wall and the breast.
  • Inframammary Incision – An incision that is made in the fold found below the breast.
  • Intracapsular Rupture – A rupture where the silicone gel remains in the scar tissue capsule that surrounds the implant.
  • Latissimus Dorsi Flap Reconstruction – A procedure that uses tissue transferred from the latissimus dorsi muscle in order to create a breast mound.
  • Lumpectomy – The removal of a cancerous tumor as well as part of the surrounding tissue.
  • Malposition – When the breast or implant is in an abnormal position.
  • Mammogram – A breast x-ray procedure.
  • Mammography – When x-rays are used to make a diagnostic breast picture.
  • Mastectomy – A surgical procedure that removes the
  • Mastopexy – A plastic surgery procedure that lifts the breasts.
  • Micromastia – More commonly known as abnormal breast smallness.
  • Nipple – The pigmented tissue located in the surface center of the breast.
  • Pectoralis Major – A muscle that is found in the upper part of the chest that helps support the breasts.
  • Periareolar – An area that is pigmented or even darkened that surrounds the breast nipple.
  • Pocket – A cavity created in the body where the surgeon places the implant.
  • Pole – The lower or upper half of a breast or breast implant.
  • Primary Augmentation – The first augmentation procedure that a doctor performs on a patient.
  • Ptosis – A term that refers to sagging or drooping breasts. It can be caused by aging and gravity as well as changes brought on the body by weight loss and pregnancy.
  • Radical Mastectomy – The removal of not only the breast but also the lymph nodes under the arms and any underlying muscles.
  • Revision Augmentation – Any augmentation procedure that is performed after the first augmentation procedure by a doctor.
  • Rippling – This is the appearance of wrinkles or ridges in the breast implant.
  • Rupture – A hole or tear in the shell of a silicone implant.
  • Saline Implants – Implants filled with saline solution.
  • Silent Rupture – A rupture of the breast implant that normally doesn’t have any outward symptoms. The majority of silicone breast implant ruptures are silent.
  • Silicone Implants – Implants filled with silicone gel.
  • Simple Mastectomy – When only the breast is removed during the mastectomy.
  • Sternum – The bone that is located between the breasts.
  • Submuscular Implants – Implants that are placed completely under the muscle.
  • Symmastia – A condition where the two breast implants touch in the center of the chest.
  • Thrombosis – When a blood clot forms.
  • Tissue Expander – Used to stretch and expand the tissues found at the mastectomy site.
  • Transumbilical Breast Augmentation (TUBA) – An implant procedure that involves the breast implants being inserted through the belly button.
  • Tubular/Tuberous Breasts - A breast shape due to a herniated areola or a smaller breast base.