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Autoimmune Diseases
A group of diseases where the body's immune system starts
to attack itself.
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Breast Augmentation
Surgery to change the size or shape of the breast through the
use of breast implants.
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Capsule
The scar tissue which forms around a breast implant. This
is the body's normal response to the presence of any foreign
object.
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Capsular Contracture
Where the capsule surrounding a breast implant tightens.
Extreme cases can cause the breast to feel hard and painful.
It may also lead to disfigurement where the capsule surrounding
one implant contracts and the other does not, or if the capsule
contracts unevenly. Women experience different degrees of capsular
contracture for reasons not yet known.
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Closed Capsulotomy
A procedure to break a contracted capsule by squeezing the
breast. The procedure can be extremely painful and may cause
implant rupture. It is not recommended and is no longer widely
used.
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Gel
'bleed'
Where tiny amounts of silicone gel leak across the implant's
outer envelope or shell into the surrounding capsule and breast
tissue. This silicone gel can also travel to other body tissues,
particularly through the body's lymphatic system.
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Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Technology to detect breast cancers or other abnormalities
in the breast including breast implant rupture and leakage.
The technique involves the use of radio waves to take pictures
of sections of body tissue.
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Mammogram
A special X-Ray to detect breast cancers or other breast
abnormalities including breast implant rupture. The radiographer
should be informed that you have breast implants as special
techniques must be used.
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Mastectomy
A surgical procedure to remove a breast after diagnosis
of breast cancer.
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Mastopexy
An elective surgical procedure to reconstruct the breast,
sometimes used following the removal of a breast implant.
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Ptosis
Breast ptosis (drooping breasts) can result from
a loosening of the skin and suspensory ligaments. Gravity and
weight of breasts take their toll over time. Ptosis can also
come from a reduction in the volume of breast tissue. This can
occur after pregnancy and weight loss.
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Rippling
Ridges from the implant that can be felt or seen
around the edge of the breast. Some rippling is normal in saline
implants. The below picture is a more sever case of rippling.
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Saline
Salt water used to fill saline breast implants and tissue
expanders. Saline is absorbed easily by the body if the implant
ruptures or leaks.
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Silicone
Is a plastic or polymer made partly from silicon. Silicone
can come in solid, liquid or gel forms. Silicone breast implants
consist of a solid silicone outer shell filled with silicone
gel.
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Silicone granulomas
Are small lumps that sometimes form in breast and other
body tissues around leaked silicone from silicone implants.
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Tissue expander
Is a type of silicone breast implant which is used to stretch
the skin of the breast. Saline is regularly injected into the
expander through a valve under the skin until it stretches enough
to allow insertion of a permanent implant. Other tissue expanders
are left in the breast permanently.
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Ultrasound
Is the use of electronic waves to detect abnormalities including
rupture of breast implants.
