Reconstructive Surgery Glossary

Surgical procedures performed using an operating microscope and specialized instruments on very small structures.

Original, naturally occurring breast parenchyma and associated structures present before surgical intervention.

Surgical creation of a new areola complex following mastectomy or when the original areola cannot be preserved.

A surgically reconstructed breast created following mastectomy or in cases of congenital absence.

Surgically reconstructed nipple following mastectomy, typically created using local tissue flaps and later tattooing.

Surgical procedure to recreate the nipple-areolar complex following mastectomy, typically performed as a separate stage...

Surgical removal of breast tissue while preserving the nipple-areolar complex.

Surgical approach combining oncologic resection with plastic surgery techniques to maintain breast aesthetics during can...

Surgical removal of excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen (pannus) for functional rather than cosmetic purposes.

Profunda artery perforator flap harvested from the posterior thigh for autologous breast reconstruction, using perforato...

Reconstructive technique to restore breast volume and shape following lumpectomy or partial mastectomy.

Large chest wall muscle commonly used for implant coverage and flap harvest in reconstructive surgery.

A surgical flap that remains attached to its original blood supply via a vascular pedicle during transfer.

Tissue flap that includes skin and fat while preserving underlying muscle by using only small perforating blood vessels.

Preoperative imaging technique to identify and locate blood vessels for perforator flap harvest planning.

Surgical folding and suturing of tissues to reduce size, eliminate redundancy, or restore structural integrity.

Surgical creation of a space beneath the chest muscle or fascia to accommodate a breast implant or tissue expander.

Breast reconstruction technique where the implant is placed above the pectoralis muscle, often with acellular dermal mat...

The forward extension of the breast from the chest wall, measured as the distance from chest to nipple.

Classification system for measuring the degree of breast sagging based on nipple position relative to the inframammary f...

Interrupted sutures placed to eliminate dead space and reduce fluid accumulation in large surgical dissection planes.

The anatomical location where transplanted tissue or reconstructive material is placed during surgery.

Blood vessels in the recipient site used for microvascular anastomosis in free tissue transfer.

Secondary surgical procedures performed to improve or correct issues following initial breast reconstruction.