Plastic Surgery Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
pectoral muscle
Chest muscle that may be positioned above or below breast implants.
otoplasty
Surgical procedure to correct protruding or misshapen ears by reshaping ear cartilage.
panniculectomy
Medical procedure to remove excess abdominal skin and tissue, typically for functional rather than cosmetic reasons.
pectoral muscle
Chest muscle that may be positioned above or below breast implants.
periareolar incision
Surgical incision made around the border of the areola.
platysma
Thin superficial muscle of the neck important in facial rejuvenation procedures.
Surgically created space where breast implant is positioned.
postoperative edema
Temporary tissue swelling following surgery caused by inflammation and fluid accumulation in tissues.
projection
The forward extent of a breast implant from the chest wall.
ptosis
Drooping or sagging of body tissues, commonly referring to breast or eyelid positioning.
ptotic
Adjective describing a drooping or sagging condition, particularly of the breast or eyelid.
retroauricular incision
A surgical incision made behind the ear, commonly used in facial plastic surgery procedures to minimize visible scarring...
revision surgery
Secondary surgical procedure performed to correct, improve, or address complications from a previous operation.
rhinoplasty
Surgical procedure to reshape or reconstruct the nose for aesthetic or functional purposes.
rhytidectomy
Medical term for a facelift procedure that removes wrinkles by surgically tightening facial skin.
rippling
Visible or palpable wrinkling of breast implant surface through the skin.
seroma
Post-operative complication involving fluid accumulation in tissue spaces where surgery was performed.
silicone gel implant
Breast implant filled with cohesive silicone gel material.
SMAS
Fibromuscular layer beneath facial skin that is manipulated during advanced facelift procedures.
subfascial plane
Surgical dissection level beneath the fascia layer, commonly used in breast and body contouring procedures.
subglandular placement
Positioning of breast implant above the pectoralis muscle, beneath breast tissue.
symmastia
Abnormal joining of breast implants across the midline of the chest.
textured implant
Breast implant with a roughened surface designed to reduce capsular contracture risk.
tissue expander
Inflatable medical device placed under the skin to gradually stretch tissue for reconstruction purposes.
tissue necrosis
Death of tissue cells due to insufficient blood supply or other factors.