| Augmentation mammaplasty |
| Breast enlargement surgery. |
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| Autologous tissue breast reconstruction |
| The use of the patient’s own tissues to reconstruct a new breast mound. The most common technique is the TRAM (transverse rectus abdominous muscle) flap. A TRAM flap involves removing an area of fat, skin, and muscle from the abdomen and stitching it in place to the mastectomy wound. |
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| Axillary |
| Of or referring to the underarm. Indicates the location of one of the possible incisions for breast enlargement, namely, under the arm. |
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| Basal cell carcinoma |
| The most common type of skin cancer. It begins in the basal cells of the outermost layer of skin, external root sheath of hair follicles or from a precursor lesion (sore). They occur most frequently on the face. They are locally invasive. Only 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 35,000 metastasize to distant areas of the body. These cancers bleed easily when rubbed. |
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| Bilateral mastectomy |
| The removal of breast tissue and reduction of nipple size to form a male chest. |
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| Blackhead |
| A lesion seen in acne that is caused when the hair follicle becomes filled with a plug of oil, bacteria and cells but remains open to the skin surface. Because the plug is open and exposed to air, oxidation of one of the components of the plug causes the surface of the plug to turn black. |
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| Blepharoplasty |
| A surgical procedure in which the physician removes excess fat, muscle, and skin from either or both the upper and lower eye lids to redefine the shape of the eye. This procedure can be cosmetic or reconstructive. |
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| Board Certified |
| Having passed a test given by a "board" of "authoritative" individuals. Some board-certification exams test only a doctor's memory on paper or by computer, some tests are oral (verbal questions and answers) and some tests are physical, in which examiners observe the doctor being tested, and involve treatment or examination of a patient. |
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| Body Contouring |
| Refers to the group of plastic surgery procedures used to change body contours. It includes abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, brachioplasty, liposuction, thigh buttock lifts, reduction mammaplasty (breast reduction) and mastopexy (breast lift). |
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| Botox |
| Botox (botulism toxin) is a compound produced by bacteria. It temporarily paralyzes muscle, beginning about 1 week after being injected into the muscle. Lasts 3-6 months. Repeat injections are usually required. |
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| Bowman's Membrane |
| The non-regenerative layer of tissue between the epithelial and the stromal layers of the cornea. This layer is not affected by LASIK but is during a PRK procedure. |
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| Brachioplasty |
| Plastic surgery performed on the upper arm to improve contours. It involves removal of skin on the inner part of the upper arm to tighten it, and may involve liposuction to the area as well. |
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| Breast augmentation |
| A surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman's breast. Maybe performed to enhance the body contour of a woman who feels her breasts are too small, to correct a reduction in breast volume, to balance a difference in breast size, or to reconstruct a breast after breast surgery. This procedure involves insertion of implants to increase breast size and to provide fuller breasts. |
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| Breast lift |
| Similar to breast reduction but involves removal of excess breast skin; the nipple is brought up to a normal position, changing breast shape but not size. |
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| Breast reconstruction |
| A procedure or series of procedures performed to rebuild a breast mound. Most often performed after the partial complete removal of a breast due to breast cancer. |
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| Breast reduction |
| A surgical procedure most often performed for reasons such as back aches, shoulder problems, and breast crease irritation; involves reducing the breasts through the removal of excess skin and breast tissue. |
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| Brow lift |
| A surgical procedure designed to correct changes to the upper face caused by time including forehead lines, drooping eyebrows and upper lids, and frown lines. These facial characteristics can make people appear tired and older than they really are. |
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| Capsular contracture |
| The most common complication of breast reconstruction surgery. Occurs if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten. |
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| Capsulectomy |
| Surgical removal of the breast implant capsule. |
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| Carcinoma |
| A name for any cancer that develops from cells that cover the outside and inside surfaces of the body, for example, the skin cells and cells that line the stomach and intestines. |
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