Breast Implant Surgery Terms and Definitions
Considering Breast Implant Surgery?
Here are Some Breast Augmentation Terms You Should Know –
When you begin researching breast implant surgery, some of the medical terms can be unfamiliar
Dr. M. Azhar Ali is a double board-certified, Detroit area plastic surgeon who has performed more than 7,000 plastic surgery procedures. He and his team offer the highest standards in breast implant technologies and breast augmentation surgical techniques – coupled with comfortable & compassionate care – to all of our valued patients. In this article we set forth some of the medical terms you may hear or read about when considering breast implant surgery.
However, the best way to understand these terms – and how they apply to your situation – is to schedule a consultation with Dr, Ali in his state-of-the-art Detroit area Medical Facility.
Breast Implant Terminology A – E
Areola: the disc of pink, brown or darker skin around the nipple
Asymmetrical: unequal, not matching, or different in size, shape or placement.
Axilla: the armpit.
Axillary: related to the armpit.
Bilateral: occurring on both the right and left sides. A bilateral mastectomy is the removal of both breasts.
Breast envelope: the skin and tissue that covers the breast.
Capsular Contracture: a complication of breast implant surgery where scar tissue forms around the breast implant, resulting in breast stiffness, pain and in some case leaking of the fluid inside the breast implant.
Capsule: the fibrous tissue around the breast implant.
Dropping: when a breast implant drops into its final, slightly lower, more natural position – this occurs once the swelling has gone down and the skin and muscle have completely relaxed during healing.
Endoscopic surgery: surgery that uses a very small incision, to insert a tiny camera (endoscope) and special small surgical tools. Endoscopic surgery has fewer risks and shorter recovery time than traditional surgery.
Expander implant: a temporary breast implant used to gradually stretch the tissue by filling it with saline over time – to expand the area for a permanent breast implant.
Breast Implant Terminology F – L
Fascia: a sheet of connective tissue covering or binding muscles or organs.
Fluffing: when a breast implant drops into its final, slightly lower, more natural position – this occurs once the swelling has gone down and the skin and muscle have completely relaxed during healing.
Fold incision: an incision made in the inframammary crease to place the breast implants. Also called an Inframammary incision.
Form stable breast implants: (aka “gummy bear” breast implants) breast implants that are filled with a viscous gel that won’t leak in the event of a rupture.
General anesthesia: the type of anesthesia typically used for breast implant surgery, in which the patient is completely “asleep” or “under”.
Gummy bear implants: nickname for “form stable breast implants” which are filled with highly cohesive silicone gel, so if the implant ruptures the gel won’t migrate or “leak”.
Highly cohesive breast implants: another term for Gummy Bear Breast Implants or Form Stable Breast Implants.
Inframammary crease: the crease below the breasts where the breast meets the skin over the rib cage.
Inframammary incision: an incision made in the inframammary crease to place the breast implants. Also called the “crease” or “fold” incision.
Intracapsular rupture: a type of breast implant rupture in which a silicone-filled breast implant breaks, but the silicone is contained within the capsule.
Lobules: the part of the breast where milk is produced. These lobules are gathered into lobes – with up to 20 lobes per breast.
Local anesthesia: the type of anesthesia that only numbs a small part of the body, and is typically not used for breast implant surgery.
Breast Implant Terminology M – Z
Mastectomy: surgical removal of a breast (or both breasts) and associated breast tissue.
Mastopexy: technical term for a breast lift.
Micromastia: abnormally small breasts.
Pectoralis major: the two large, fan-shaped chest muscles on the chest that a breast implant is placed underneath in submuscular or subpectoral placement.
Pectoralis minor: the small chest muscles which are targeted with a Botox breast lift.
Periareolar incision: an incision made directly below the areola for inserting the breast implant – usually on the lower semi-circle of the areola. Scars here are less noticeable because of the darker skin and curve of the areola.
Pocket: the cavity made in the body in breast augmentation, in which the space is created for the breast implant.
Pole: the upper half or lower half of the breast or breast implant. The upper pole is the top half of the breast or breast implant – when the upper pole is fuller there is more roundness and cleavage.
Ptosis: the medical term for sagging – often used to describe dropping breasts.
Saline: is a mixture of salt (sodium chloride) in water. Saline is used to fill certain breast implants, however silicone is more widely used to fill breast implants at this time.
Sternum: the breast bone between the two breasts.
Submuscular and full submuscular: placing breast implants beneath the muscle. Full submuscular placement is placing the breast implant entirely under the muscle.
Symmastia: is a condition when the two breast implants are placed to closely and touch in the middle of the chest – also called kissing implants or a “uniboob.”
Transaxillary incision: a transaxillary incision is created through a channel from the armpit (axilla) to the breast and then the breast implant is placed behind the nipple.
Transumbilical breast augmentation (TUBA): a procedure in which breast implants are inserted via the belly button.
The Detroit Area’s Best Breast Implant Surgery
Dr. Ali is a double board certified plastic surgeon, who has helped throusands of women get the breasts they want with breast implant surgery. He will offer you a consultation so you can can understand what the best surgical options are for you. He will take the time to carefully explain all medical terms to you, and make sure that you have an understanding of the best techniques for achieving your appearance goals.