Breast Surgery Glossary

Breast Implants: is the name given to the cosmetic surgery procedure of enhancing the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. A breast implant is a prosthesis which is surgically inserted into the breasts to increase their size. There are two main types of breast implants:

Saline-gel-filled breast implants
Silicone based breast implants

Breast Augmentation: is an alternative name for Breast implant surgery. Breast Augmentation is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedure in the UK. The hurlingham clinic is one of the most popular clinics for breast augmentation in London.

Breast Enlargement: is again an alternative name for the surgical procedure of enhancing the size and shape of the breasts by the use of breast implants.

Breast Lift: also known as mastopexy is the name given to the surgical procedures designed to improve the appearance of the breasts. The main objective of breast lift surgery is to give the breasts a more firm and shapelier appearance. Many women have breast lift surgery in conjunction with breast enlargement surgery (by insertion of breast implants as described above).

Pregnancy, weight loss, ageing and the effects of gravity over time are the most common reasons for loss of tone and volume of the breasts. Having a breast lift can successfully improve the position, shape and distribution of breast tissue but it must be noted that subsequent pregnancies, ageing and the effects of gravity can all eventually reverse the effects of the surgery.

Breast Uplift: is another name for breast lift surgery.

Mastopexy: is another name for breast lift surgery.

Breast Reduction: is also known as reduction mammoplasty. Breast reduction surgery involves surgically reducing the size of the breasts to by excising breast fat, glandular tissue and skin. It is sometimes done in conjunction with a breast lift to give the breast a shapelier appearance.

Similarly to breast augmentation, breast reduction surgery is a procedure more commonly performed on women but can also be performed on men suffering from gynecomastia (male breast reduction surgery).
Common reasons why women choose to have breast reduction surgery include:

For cosmetic purposes
To reduce back pain and increase comfort levels
To increase mobility and reduce skin irritation

Gynecomastia: also known as gynaecomastia is the name given to the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement.

Male Breast Reduction Surgery: this is often performed to treat gynecomastia

Breast Surgery: this is the generic name given for all types of breast operations. Cosmetic breast surgery operations include:

Breast augmentation surgery (breast enlargement)
Breast reduction surgery
Breast lift surgery (otherwise known as breast uplift or mastopexy)
Breast reconstruction surgery (reconstruction mammaplasty)
Gynecomastia surgery (male breast reduction surgery)

At The Hurlingham Clinic we specialise in all of the above types of breast surgery. If you are considering having breast surgery in London then please contact us on 020 7348 6380

Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery - Glossary of Terms
Breast Lift
Breast Augmentation
Breast Reduction
Breast Surgery Before After

Contact us for your breast surgery consultation.