Your ultimate guide to understanding the sea of technical terms that can sometimes make the process of breast surgery feel intimidating.
Breast surgery has specialised terminology that can confuse even the most well-read individuals. This guide is designed to make this journey smoother and more understandable for you by explaining the often perplexing terminology of breast surgery.
From making the choice towards self-improvement with breast surgery to the final consultation, there's a significant amount of breast implant terminology to digest. Whether you're considering a purely cosmetic procedure or reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy, understanding the jargon used can often feel like learning an entirely new language.
We've divided this guide into the following sections:
Types of Breast Implants
When it comes to breast surgery, you're not just deciding to have a procedure—you're also choosing the type and shape of implant that complements your body type and personal preferences. Here, we'll explain some key breast implant terminology you're likely to encounter.
Implant Type
Saline implants are filled with sterile saline solution, similar to the fluid that makes up most of the human body. These implants have an outer shell made of silicone, and they can either be pre-filled to a predetermined size or filled at the time of surgery to allow for minor modifications in implant size.
Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel, a thick fluid that mimics the feel of human fat. Most women feel that silicone breast implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue.
Cohesive gel implants, often called gummy bear implants, are made of a silicone gel that holds its shape even when the implant shell is broken or cut. Similar to the consistency of gummy candy, these implants are remarkably firm and maintain their shape, thus reducing risks of leakage.
Implant Shapes
When it comes to shapes, breast implants are typically categorised into two primary types.
Round Implants, as the name would suggest, round implants are circular in shape and offer a full look. Their symmetric design ensures that even if they move inside the breast pocket, the shape of the breasts remains unaffected. Many women prefer round implants as they tend to provide more fullness in the upper pole of the breasts, offering a more youthful, lifted appearance.
Anatomical implants, often referred to as 'teardrop' implants, mimic the natural slope of a woman's breasts, with a thicker bottom portion and a tapered top. Initially designed for reconstructive surgery, these implants have become increasingly popular in cosmetic surgery for those seeking a more subtle, natural look. However, one potential downside to anatomical implants is their potential to rotate, which could distort the shape of the breast if it occurs.
Implant Surfaces
When discussing implant surfaces, you may come across 'macro textured' and 'micro textured'. These surface textures are designed to minimise the risk of capsular contracture, a condition where scar tissue forms a tight capsule around the implant.
Macro textured Implants have a rougher surface that helps prevent capsular contracture, a condition where scar tissue forms a tight capsule around the implant.
Micro textured Implants possess a more subtle texture, aiding in adhesion to the surrounding tissue, minimising movement and potential complications like capsular contracture.
Smooth Implants have a glossy, soft surface, enabling them to move freely within the breast pocket, mimicking natural breast movement. Although they might show some rippling under the skin, they offer a more natural feel.
Finding the Right Size
While discussing size, your surgeon might use terms like 'projection', 'profile', and 'volume'. It's not as daunting as it sounds. Projection refers to how far the implant extends forward from the chest wall while profile refers to the implant's side view related to the base width.
Low Profile: These implants have a broader base and offer less outward projection. They're usually recommended for women with wider chests. The resulting look is subtle and natural.
Moderate Profile: This profile represents a middle ground with a balance between base width and projection. It's versatile, suits many body types, and yields a natural yet noticeable result.
High profile: These implants have a smaller base and provide more projection; consequently, they present a pronounced, rounder silhouette and are best suited for women with a narrow chest wall.
Extra High Profile: With the narrowest base and highest projection, these implants offer the most pronounced, rounded look and may be preferred by those seeking a more dramatic enhancement.
Implant volume refers to the implant size, which is generally measured in cubic centimetres (cc), not in cup sizes like bras. For example, a 350cc implant isn't twice as big as a 175cc implant. The actual size of an implant, as it appears on the body, depends on various factors, including the patient's body frame, weight, chest wall measurements, and existing breast tissue.
Implant Placement
Sub-glandular placement, or "over-the-muscle" placement, involves positioning the implant beneath the mammary gland and above the pectoralis muscle. The primary benefit of this placement is that it provides a more pronounced shape. Moreover, since it does not interfere with the muscle tissue, the recovery time is often shorter. However, it may not be as suitable for individuals with thin or soft tissue as this might make the implant outlines more noticeable.
In sub-muscular placement, often called "under-the-muscle", the implant sits beneath the mammary gland and the pectoralis muscle. A key advantage of this strategy is that the additional layer offered by the muscle inherently provides more coverage for the implant, thereby aiding in creating a more natural appearance while reducing the probability of rippling or the implant being felt. Nonetheless, because this technique involves altering the muscle structure, the recovery period may be prolonged, and there might be a bit more discomfort during the initial recovery phase.
Dual plane placement is a somewhat more intricate method that merges the benefits of the previous two placements. Essentially, it entails positioning the top part of the implant under the muscle while the bottom half sits in a sub-glandular position—providing both muscle and glandular coverage. This unique placement assists in creating a natural teardrop shape, particularly when using anatomically shaped implants.
Understanding Possible Complications
While breast surgery can dramatically improve self-confidence and body contours, it's equally essential to comprehend the potential issues that could arise. Knowledge of these terms will empower you to make informed choices, anticipate potential risks, and have a meaningful discussion with your surgeon.
An implant rupture occurs when the shell of an implant breaks. This can happen because of an injury, wear and tear, or mechanical failure. Though designed to be robust and long-lasting, implants can occasionally rupture or leak. Women should also know the difference between intracapsular rupture, where the silicone stays within the scar tissue capsule, and extracapsular rupture, where the silicone leaks outside the capsule.
Double Bubble Deformity refers to a post-operative complication where the breast implant drops below the breast's natural crease, causing a visible line or bulge that gives the breast a double bubble appearance.
Symmastia is a condition where the two breasts appear to merge in the middle, creating an unflattering 'uni-boob' visual. It can occur due to overly aggressive surgery, excessively large implants, or implants placed too closely together. While rare, this complication requires corrective surgery for resolution.
Implant displacement is when the implant moves from its original position after surgery. This movement could be due to various factors, such as the healing process, capsular contracture, or biomechanical forces. Depending on the severity, it might necessitate surgical revision.
Capsular Contracture. The body naturally forms a 'capsule' or a layer of scar tissue around an implant as a part of its healing process. Capsular contracture refers to the hardening of this capsule, which can alter the shape or feel of your implant and may cause mild discomfort or pain. Not every breast implant recipient will experience this, and the severity can differ from person to person.
A silent rupture is a tear or hole in the implant shell that goes unnoticed because it doesn't present visible changes or noticeable discomfort. Regular follow-ups and imaging tests are important after receiving silicone gel-filled implants.
Serpoma. Although rare, serpoma is the accumulation of serum, or body fluid, around the implant. If the body does not absorb this fluid, it may require surgical drainage.
BIA-ALCL, which stands for Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, is a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that can develop around breast implants, particularly textured implants. It is not a form of breast cancer but instead a type of immune system cancer that grows in the fluid or scar tissue surrounding the implant.
Breast Implant Illness (BII) is a term that refers to a wide range of symptoms that can develop after undergoing breast implant surgery.
Incision Location Terms
In breast surgery, the term incision location refers to where the surgeon makes an opening or cut to insert the breast implants. Knowing the different terms used to describe these locations can help you understand the surgical process more clearly. The incision made can influence the visibility of any potential scarring, the type of implants used, and the surgery's overall success.
Periareolar incision: This is made along the edge of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. The benefit of a periareolar incision is that the resulting scar blends well with the natural colour transition between the areola and the breast skin, making it less noticeable. However, this method is generally more invasive to the breast tissue and might affect breastfeeding capabilities in the future.
Inframammary incision: An inframammary incision is made in the crease where the bottom of the breast meets the chest wall, also known as the inframammary fold. This location allows straightforward access to the breast tissue and poses less risk to the milk ducts, potentially preserving breastfeeding function. The resulting scar, while hidden in the breast crease, may be more visible than other types and somewhat depends on bra and swimsuit styles.
Transaxillary incision: Made in the armpit, this approach leaves no scars on the breast itself, appealing to many women.
Doing your research and learning as much as you can about the procedure you want to do is an important step. But remember, your surgeon is still the best source of information and will give you the guidance you need to make confident, informed decisions. Contact a Crestcare plastic surgeon if you have any questions, or would like to find out more about breast surgery.